Where "Offsider" Comes From
"Offsider" comes directly from Australia's bullock-driving industry. The bullocky (the driver) walked on the "on side" of the team, next to the lead animal, cracking the whip — while his assistant walked on the opposite "off side," giving the role its name. The earliest recorded use of this specifically Australian sense dates to 1879.
As droving and bullock teams faded from everyday life, the word generalised into today's meaning: anyone acting as a helper, sidekick, or partner in a task, across any occupation — a rare slang term that's kept its literal working history fully intact even as the job itself disappeared.
Source:
"He brought his offsider along to help with the fencing."
How Aussies Actually Use It
It's used for a work assistant, a sidekick, or simply someone who tags along to help out.
It carries a friendly, easy-going tone rather than a formal job title.
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