ˈshipmaster
[f. ship n.1 + master n. Cf. MLG. schifmêster, MHG., G. schiffmeister.]
1. The master, captain, or commander of a ship; formerly also, a pilot, steersman.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxix. (Placidas) 368 Ay wes þe schipmaster gowand a-pon þe laydy brycht of ble. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 447/1 Schypmayster, nauclerus. c 1440 Jacob's Well 246 As þe schypmayster redyly sterith þe schyp whan he seeth nede. 1519 W. Horman Vulg. 272 The shypmaister pursued vs with a great meyny of shypmen. 1550 Coverdale Spir. Perle vii. (1588) 80 When a great tempest ariseth in the sea, then doth it appeare whether the shipmaster be cunning in ruling the sterne or no. 1577 T. Kendall Flowers of Epigr. 85 b, An Epitaphe, of an excellent Ship⁓master, or Pilote. 1642 Vicars God in Mount 76 The stout-hearted and well-minded Ship-masters and Marriners. 1737 Gentl. Mag. VII. 24/2 His Ship-Masters had much more need of..some Knowledge of the Stars..than the Greeks. 1838 Bell Dict. Law Scot. 634 The shipmaster of a British ship must be a British subject. 1878 T. L. Cuyler Pointed Papers 240 In Great Britain no shipmaster is permitted to use an anchor which has not been tested and stamped with a government mark. |
2. A man who owns the ship which he commands.
| 1562 Act 5 Eliz. c. 5 §6 Bottoms wherof..Straungers borne then bee Owners Shipmasters or Parte Owners. 1896 Peterson Mag. (N.S.) VI. 296/2 Rising to the command of a ship and a ship-master in his adopted city. 1909 H. M. Gwatkin Early Ch. Hist. II. 60 Marcion of Sinope..was a well-to-do shipmaster. |
Hence † ˈshipˌmastery, the art of navigation.
| 1593 R. Harvey Philad. 5 Who were long enough after Noahs Arke..to haue some auncestors in shipmastry and many fellowes. |