Supporter1. (n.) One who, or that which, supports; as, oxygen is a supporter of life.
2. (n.) Especially, an adherent; one who sustains, advocates, and defends; as, the supporter of a party, faction, or candidate.
3. (n.) A knee placed under the cathead.
4. (n.) A figure, sometimes of a man, but commonly of some animal, placed on either side of an escutcheon, and exterior to it. Usually, both supporters of an escutcheon are similar figures.
5. (n.) A broad band or truss for supporting the abdomen or some other part or organ.
Thesaurus Entries
Maecenas, Santa Claus, abettor, acquaintance, adherent, admirer, advocate, aficionado, aid, almoner, almsgiver, alpenstock, alter ego, angel, apologist, appendage, arm, assignor, assistant, athletic supporter, attendant, awarder, back, backbone, backer, backing, bandeau, bearer, best friend, bestower, bosom friend, bra, brace, bracer, braces, bracket, brassiere, brother, buff, buttress, cane, carrier, casual acquaintance, cavaliere servente, cervix, champion, cheerful giver, close acquaintance, close friend, cohort, conferrer, confidant, confidante, consignor, contributor, corset, courtier, crook, crutch, dangler, defender, dependence, dependent, devotee, disciple, donator, donor, encourager, endorser, enthusiast, exponent, expounder, fairy godmother, familiar, fan, favorer, fellow, fellow creature, fellowman, feoffor, financer, flunky, follower, following, foundation garment, friend, friend at court, fulcrum, funder, galluses, girdle, giver, grantor, grubstaker, guard, guy, guywire, hanger, hanger-on, helper, henchman, homme de cour, imparter, inseparable friend, intimate, jock, jockstrap, lady bountiful, lover, mainstay, maintainer, mast, meal ticket, neck, neighbor, other self, pair of suspenders, paladin, paranymph, parasite, partisan, patron, patroness, philanthropist, pickup, presenter, promoter, prop, proponent, protagonist, protector, public, pursuer, pursuivant, reinforce, reinforcement, reinforcer, reliance, repository, rest, resting place, rigging, satellite, second, seconder, sectary, settler, shadow, shoulder, shroud, sider, spine, sponsor, sprit, staff, staker, stalwart, standby, standing rigging, stave, stay, stick, stiffener, stooge, strengthener, subscriber, successor, sugar daddy, support, suspender, suspenders, sustainer, sympathizer, tagtail, tail, testate, testator, testatrix, trainbearer, upholder, vindicator, votary, vouchsafer, walking stick, ward heeler, well-wisher