helper

One who helps; an aide; assistant; auxiliary.

That which helps; anything serving to assist.

• While Adobe's Acrobat Reader, Macromedia's Flash player, and other common plug-ins suggest themselves the moment you encounter a site that requires them, other browser helpers are harder to find.
• He no longer liked food that had “helper” in the name, such as Hamburger Helper and Tuna Helper. Patsy said he'd become uppity, and maybe, when it came to food, he had.

A person who does cleaning and cooking in a family home, or in a market; domestic employee.Hong-KongPhilippinesSingapore

A locomotive that assists a train, usually on steep gradients.US

• A device for the automatic control of crewless helper locomotives cut into the make-up of heavy freight trains has been perfected by the Louisville & Nashville RR in conjunction with the General Railway Signalling Co.

A stimulating pill, especially amphetamine.slang

• And I routinely took more “helpers” when I woke up in order to maintain the fast pace and, more importantly, to study for my final exams.