Offsiders

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who assists or supports someone in a task or endeavor, often in a specific context like sports or work
2. Individuals who serve as helpers or collaborators, providing aid in completing objectives
3. A term for those who are often placed alongside a primary figure to enhance teamwork and shared ventures

Etymology: "Offsiders" is the plural of "offsider", a noun built from "offside" with the agent suffix "-er". The sense of "offside" that matters here is the Australian one: in Australian English, an offsider is a helper or assistant who works alongside a principal, such as a tradesman's mate or a worker's assistant. The word's pieces are straightforward, so the interest lies in how the compound became a term for an assistant rather than a player or a position on the field.

Synonyms: assistants, aides