sutler
(ˈsʌtlə(r))
Also (7 subtler, suckler, shuttler, sutteler), 7–9 suttler.
[a. early mod.Du. soeteler (mod.Du. zoetelaar) small vendor, petty tradesman, victualler, soldier's servant, drudge, sutler in an army (= MLG. sut(t)eler, sudeler), f. soetelen to befoul, to perform mean duties, follow a mean or low occupation or trade (cf. LG. suddeln, early mod.G. sudeln to sully: see suddle).]
One who follows an army or lives in a garrison town and sells provisions to the soldiers.
| 1590 (Dec. 31) Ordonances & Instr. Musters, The Provost Mareschal and Sergeant Maior of euery garrison shal keepe a perfect rolle of all such English victuallers (called in dutch Sutlers) petimarchants,..and other loose persons of the English nation. 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe C j b, Sutlers booths and tabernacles. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, ii. i. 116, I shal Sutler be vnto the Campe, and profits will accrue. 1611 Beaum. & Fl. King & No K. iv, A dry sonnet of my Corporals To an old Suttlers wife. 1627 Drayton Agincourt ccxc, A few poore Sutlers with the Campe that went. 1645 Harwood Loyal Subj. Retiring-room 14 Sucklers to your Army. 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. V, cclxviii, Hee..Knocks off the Subtler's tally with a Crowne. 1701 Lond. Gaz. No. 3714/4 Mr. Wollaston, Suttler, at the Horse-Guards. 1714 Prior Viceroy xiii, The suttlers too he did ordain For licences should pay. 1775 R. Montgomery in Sparks Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853) I. 498 If they can send down to the army such articles as soldiers choose to lay out their money upon, employing sutlers for that purpose. 1844 Regul. & Ord. Army 267 No huts are to be allowed in front of, or between the intervals of the Battalions; their proper situation is in the rear of the line of petty sutlers. 1852 Thackeray Esmond iii. v, An honest little Irish lieutenant..who owed so much money to a camp sutler, that [etc.]. 1877 Encycl. Brit. VI. 517/2 Even the licensed sutlers, who follow the autumn manœuvres, are under the Mutiny Act. 1889 Times (weekly ed.) 7 June 5/4 Elshe van Aggelin..a sutler with the Dutch at the battle of Waterloo. |
| fig. 1827 Hare Guesses Ser. ii. (1873) 302 The sutlers and pioneers..who attend the march of intellect. |
† b. gen. One who furnishes provisions.
Obs.| 1710 Brit. Apollo III. No. 43. 3/1 He came to a Sutlers to Dine. c 1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 304 Houses for Suttlers for to provide for the servants. 1793 [Earl Dundonald] Descr. Estate of Culross 55 Many of the Scots Owners of Collieries acting as Sutlers, and supplying their workmen..with Oatmeal. |
† c. slang. (See
quot.)
Obs.| a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Sutler, he that Pockets up, Gloves, Knives, Handkerchiefs, Snuff and Tobacco-boxes, and all the lesser Moveables. |
Hence (all
rare)
ˈsutlerage = sutlery;
ˈsutleress, a female sutler;
ˈsutlership, the office or occupation of a sutler.
| 1854 Bentley's Misc. Oct. 323 The slaughterage, the *sutlerage, and the sewerage. |
| 1747 Gentl. Mag. Dec. 571/1 To these must be added the *sutleresses. 1871 B. Taylor Faust II. iv. ii. 308 Speedbooty (sutleress fawning upon him). |
| 1864 Webster, *Sutlership. 1889 Harper's Mag. July 178/2 Improper conduct in the disposal of a sutlership or post-tradership in the army. |