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Glite Dictionary
🧳 Non-member helper ⚔️ Army prostitute
camp follower

camp follower

1 8.0
A person who travels with an army to cook, trade and help
  • noun
  • /kæmp ˈfɔːlər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : seguidores de campamento
  • There was also a man atypical among camp followers of the empire.

Examples

  • According to the most famous tale, he was found—almost dead—by a camp follower.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • During the war, many camp followers provided essential support to the soldiers by cooking and caring for the wounded.

  • The camp followers traveled alongside the army, offering their services in exchange for protection and support.

  • In history, camp followers often included women and children who accompanied troops to provide logistical aid and companionship.

Synonyms

follower
vscamp follower
295 1.6

A person who supports a leader and accepts their direction

is specific to accompanying groups without official status and often for personal gain
acolyte
vscamp follower
14 7.5

A person who loyally helps and supports an important leader

is usually not an official member and often travels for personal gain

Surface Forms

camp follower singular
camp followers plural

Morphology

camp + follower

The meaning is partly recoverable from the parts: a B1 learner who knows 'camp' and 'follower' can infer 'someone who accompanies a camp or army.' However, the historical, specialized sense (specifically a prostitute who provided services to soldiers) is a sociocultural nuance not predictable from the literal constituents, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Camp follower comes from old army life, where the camp was the soldiers' base and a follower stayed close behind to sell food, wash clothes, or help the troops. So, the phrase means 'a person who accompanies an army but is not an official member'.