spear carrier

American  

Or spear-carrier

noun

1. a supernumerary in a theatrical or operatic production, as one of a group of soldiers or a member of a crowd; extra.

2. any minor member of a group, profession, political party, etc.; subordinate; underling.

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Etymology

Origin of spear carrier

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

After brief theater experience as a spear carrier, he moved to California.

From Washington Post • Jul. 7, 2022

He secured a job with the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford, where his first recorded role was as a spear carrier in a 1954 production of Othello.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2020

Mr. Neumann had a small part — “a spear carrier or something,” his son said — and from then on was hooked on the theater.

From New York Times • Dec. 6, 2012

Within six weeks I was performing as a spear carrier in 'Saint Joan' with Siobhan McKenna and rehearsing 'Hamlet.'

From Seattle Times • Jun. 19, 2011

Stopping a super, he asked for Miss Luft’s dressing room; the super, wearing makeup and the costume of an Egyptian spear carrier, pointed.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick