Brewer's: Follower

A male sweetheart who follows the object of his affections. A word very common among servants. Mistresses say to female servants, “I allow no followers” —i.e. I do not allow men to come into my house to see you. Also a disciple, a partisan.

“The pretty neat servant-maids had their choice of desirable followers.” —E. O. Gaskell: Cranford, chap. iii. p.53.

Related Content Allusions Foreign Words and Phrases Latin and Greek Word Elements Names: Their Origins and Meanings Old Testament Names Mythology Ancient Greek Literature & Mythology The Bible (King James version) The Koran (translation by J. M. Rodwell) Shakespeare's Plays Tales from Shakespeare (Charles and Mary Lamb) Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language