tagalong
tagalong Lexical Profile
tagalong Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person, especially a younger child or sibling, who persistently follows or accompanies others, often without an invitation.
"My little brother was a constant tagalong whenever my friends and I rode our bikes to the park."
A single-wheeled bicycle attachment or trailer with a seat and pedals that hitches to the back of an adult's bicycle so a child can ride behind.
"We attached the tagalong to my touring bike so our six-year-old could join the family cycling trip."
• adjective
Following, accompanying, or attached to someone or something else, often in an subordinate or uninvited capacity.
"The documentary crew brought along a tagalong journalist who observed the interviews from the back of the room."
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the late 19th century as a nominalized compound from the phrasal verb 'tag along', combining 'tag' (in the sense of following closely behind someone) and 'along'.