Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

A cock that strikes well with his heels or spurs.

A dependent and subservient hanger-on of a political patron.

[Political Cant, U. S.]

The army of hungry

heelers

who do their bidding.

The Century.

Noun.

A cock that strikes well with his heels.

heeler ‎(plural heelers)

A gamecock that strikes well with its heels or spurs.
A quick runner.
- 1891, Banjo Paterson, An Evening in Dandaloo
  
  That a crowd of Sydney stealers,
  
  Jockeys, pugilists and spielers
  
  Brought some horses, real heelers,
  
  Came and put us through.
(US, slang, politics, dated) A dependent and subservient hanger-on of a political patron.
- The Century
  The army of hungry heelers who do their bidding.