sutlering

English

Etymology

From sutler (“one who sells provisions to an army”), interpreted as a verb, + -ing (“suffix used to form gerunds”).

Noun

sutlering (uncountable)

1. (US, historical) The trade of following an army regiment and supplying it with provisions.
   • 1870, C. L. Ruggles, The Great American Scout and Spy, "General Bunker", 3rd Edition, Olmsted & Company, page 136,

     But, between you and I, (speaking confidentially,) I quit sutlering and joined a band of guerrillas, because I thought that I could make more money at it.

   • 1897, Minutes of the court of burgomasters and schepens, 1653-1655, Knickerbocker Press, page 25:

     Furthermore, the Director General and Council aforesaid being credibly informed of the sutlering and selling of wine, beer and liquors along the river by yachts, barks, scows, ships and canoes, going up or down, hereby not only strictly forbid such sutlering and selling, but also ordain and command, that […] .

   • 2012, Paul B. Kerr, Civil War Surgeon: Biography of James Langstaff Dunn, MD, AuthorHouse, page 244:

     Besides his dreaming of becoming a vintner at Aquia Creek, Dr. Dunn gave thought to owning a Sutlering Business. Sept 16, 1863 he writes, “I wrote you about being interested in the Sutlering for the 109th Rg'nt. I want you to keep that to yourself & if I have no bad luck will make a nice thing of it.”

Anagrams

• lustering, resulting