Sutler

Sutler, a camp-follower who sells provisions, liquor and other supplies to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters.

Related Topics:
Camp-follower - Army

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The word, like numerous other naval and military terms, came into English from the Dutch, where it appears as soetelaar or zoetelaar.

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It meant originally "one who does dirty work, a drudge, a scullion", and derives from zoetelen (to foul, sully), a word cognate with "suds" (hot soapy water), "seethe" (to boil) and "sodden".

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