quartermaster

noun, verb — 4 senses

quartermaster

noun

US /ˈk(w)ɔɹtɚˌmæstɚ/ · UK /ˈkwɔːtɚˌmɑːstə/

Etymology From Middle English quartermayster, quartermaistre, equivalent to quarter + master. Perhaps reinforced by and merged with Dutch kwartiermeester, kwartier-meester. Compare German Quartiermeister, French quartier-maître.

1

Government, Military, Politics, War An officer whose duty is to provide quarters, provisions, storage, clothing, fuel, stationery, and transportation for a regiment or other body of troops, and superintend the supplies. Master of quartering.

2

Nautical, Transport A petty officer who attends to the helm, binnacle, signals, and the like, under the direction of the master. Once master of the quarterdeck.

3

A leadership position within a troop whose responsibility it is to track and maintain the troop's equipment, for example stoves, Dutch ovens, utensils, and tents.

Derived terms
Quarpel, quartermaster general, quartermasterly, quartermaster sergeant, quartermastership, quartermaster train
Coordinate terms
baggage train, wagonmaster

quartermaster

verb

Etymology From Middle English quartermayster, quartermaistre, equivalent to quarter + master. Perhaps reinforced by and merged with Dutch kwartiermeester, kwartier-meester. Compare German Quartiermeister, French quartier-maître.

1

Ambitransitive To act as a quartermaster.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.