Supporter

n.	1.	One who, or that which, supports; as, oxygen is a supporter of life. The sockets and supporters of flowers are figured. - Bacon. The saints have a . . . supporter in all their miseries. - South.
	2.	Especially, an adherent; one who sustains, advocates, and defends; as, the supporter of a party, faction, or candidate.
	3.	(Shipbuilding) A knee placed under the cathead.
	4.	(Her.) 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.	(Med.) A broad band or truss for supporting the abdomen or some other part or organ.

Noun	1.	supporter - a person who backs a politician or a team etc.; "all their supporters came out for the game"; "they are friends of the library" Synonyms: admirer, booster, protagonist, champion, friend
	2.	supporter - someone who supports or champions something Synonyms: sponsor, patron
	3.	supporter - a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "my invaluable assistant"; "they hired additional help to finish the work" Synonyms: assistant, helper, help
	4.	supporter - a band (usually elastic) worn around the leg to hold up a stocking (or around the arm to hold up a sleeve) Synonyms: garter
	5.	supporter - a support for the genitals worn by men engaging in strenuous exercise Synonyms: athletic supporter, jockstrap, suspensor, jock

Maecenas, Santa Claus, abettor, acquaintance, admirer, advocate, aficionado, aid, almoner, almsgiver, alpenstock, alter ego, angel, apologist, appendage, arm, assignor, assistant, athletic supporter, 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, donator, donor, encourager, endorser, enthusiast, exponent, expounder, fairy godmother, familiar, fan, favorer, fellow, fellow creature, fellowman, feoffor, financer, flunky, following, foundation garment, friend, friend at court, fulcrum, funder, galluses, girdle, giver, grantor, grubstaker, guard, guy, guywire, hanger, hanger-on, helper, 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