camp follower

Noun

camp follower (plural camp followers)

1. (historical) A civilian who follows an army, typically a family member of a soldier or someone who provides services to the soldiers, e.g. prostitution, sale of liquor, cooking and laundry.
   • But besides these incompetents, there was always a train of camp followers, —women who followed the camp, beggars, and criminals, whose number was often greater than the number of fighting soldiers.1915, Henry Smith Williams, Edward Huntington Williams, Modern Warfare, page 11
   • There were very few camp followers at the beginning of the American Revolution. But as the war dragged on, the need for families to be together won out.1976, Soldiers - Volume 31, page 52
2. A person who provides services to those engaged in a particular endeavor.
   • When the camp followers are engaged in supplying genuine recreation, in ministering to intellectual and spiritual wants instead of pandering to destructive instincts, the economic as well as the moral health of the community is sound.1907 July 5, “Prosperity Among Camp Followers Not Always Proof of Profitable Mining”, in Ores and Metals, volume 16, page 251
   • The good fellow is the man with the good character and the object of the camp followers is to see that all the coopers and stave men have a good time.1909 March, “The Camp Followers”, in Barrel and Box and Packages, volume 14, number 1, page 40
3. One who joins a group, movement, or project without being a legitimate member; one who jumps on a bandwagon.
   • Near-synonym: fellow traveller
   • I wouldn't discourage my camp followers for worlds! But I watch them pretty carefully, and when they show signs of making money, then I begin to put the screws on.1910, P.R. Barney, “The Advertising Camp Followers”, in Printers' Ink, volume 71, number 13, page 40

   Synonyms:

   fellow traveller