ˈcamp-master Obs. exc. Hist.
[f. camp n.2]
The term used in 16–17th c. to render Sp. maestre de campo, It. maestro di campo, and F. maistre de camp, a staff-officer of the army in these countries: also put for the L. præfectus castrorum. camp-master-general, a field-marshal.
In France, the staff-officers of infantry regiments at their institution in 1558 consisted of a colonel-general, a mestre de camp, and a sergeant-major; the mestre de camp subsequently became colonel of the regiment; in the cavalry the title of maître de camp was retained by the commander of the regiment. Sir D. Scott Brit. Army (1868) II. 382.
| a 1569 A. Kingsmill Confl. Satan (1578) 21 So wicked that you might be a Campmaster, a General amongst them. 1581 Savile Tacitus' Hist. ii. xxvi. (1591) 68 Julius Gratus the Camp-master [præfectus castrorum] was put in prison. 1598 Barret Theor. Warres Gloss. 249 Campe-maister, in Spanish Maestro del Campo, is a Colonell: being the chiefe Commander or officer ouer one Regiment. Ibid., Camp maister Generall, in Spanish, Maestre del Campo Generall, is a great Commander, and is with vs the high Marshall of the field. 1670 Cotton Espernon i. i. 2 He was made Camp-Master to the Light Horse of France. 1693 Paris Rel. Batt. Landen 4 The Regiment of the Camp-Master-General. |