1. People who provide money, supplies, or equipment to prospectors or miners in exchange for a share of any discoveries or profits.
Usage: Plural of grubstaker; Chiefly historical; associated with gold rushes and mining ventures

Examples

• During the California Gold Rush, grubstakers funded countless prospectors hoping to strike it rich.
• The grubstakers demanded a percentage of any gold the miners found in return for their investment.
• Many grubstakers lost their money when prospectors failed to discover valuable deposits.
• Early grubstakers often supplied food, tools, and horses to miners heading into remote territories.
• The relationship between grubstakers and prospectors was formalized through written agreements.