Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. US) a parasite, one who eats and drinks without spending any money; more recently those who form a celebrity’s entourage and enjoy the crumbs from their various tables.

1948		R. Chandler letter 20 Sept. in Raymond Chandler Speaking (1997) 179: We didn’t have this cat seventeen years in order for some freeloader to say God forgive him he’d even take a piece about her for his goddam parish magazine.
1952		(con. 1920s) ‘Harry Grey’ Hoods (1953) 109: I’m no free loader. I like to pay for services rendered.
1962		C. Clausen I Love You Honey, But the Season’s Over 179: Mama seemed resigned that her son was probably going to marry a free-loader.
1978		P. Theroux Picture Palace 46: This was the one I always started with when freeloaders like Bushrag and Grippo came out to see me.
1985		B. Humphries Traveller’s Tool 131: I can keep a table-full of diplomats, foreign dignitaries and media free-loaders spellbound for minutes flat.
1996		A. Close Official and Doubtful 126: F for freeloaders.
2001		K. Waterhouse Soho 93: They were soon swallowed up among the chattering mass of freeloaders.