quartermaster
quartermaster Lexical Profile
quartermaster Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A military officer responsible for providing quarters, rations, clothing, and other supplies for troops.
"The expedition's quartermaster carefully inventoried the tents, medical kits, and dried rations before the winter march."
A naval petty officer who attends to a ship's helm, binnacle, signals, and navigational charts.
"The naval quartermaster updated the vessel's position on the chart and checked the compass heading."
Word Nuance & Usage
The role differs significantly between land and sea: in an army, a quartermaster is a commissioned officer managing logistics and supplies, whereas in a navy, a quartermaster is a petty officer responsible for navigation and steering.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 15th century, likely modeled on Dutch 'kwartiermeester' or German 'Quartiermeister', combining 'quarter' (in the sense of a ship's deck area or military lodging) and 'master'.