2. (Mining) An officer who directs and lays out the meres or boundaries for the workmen; -- called also bailiff, and barmaster. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) An aquatic bird, the glaucous gull (Larus glaucus), common in arctic regions. [ 1913 Webster ]

In cunning persuasion his craftsmaster. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The apex of the last abdominal segment of an insect. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who uses, or controls at will, anything inanimate; as, to be master of one's time. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Master of a hundred thousand drachms. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are masters of the sea. Jowett (Thucyd.). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who has attained great skill in the use or application of anything; as, a master of oratorical art. [ 1913 Webster ]

Great masters of ridicule. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

No care is taken to improve young men in their own language, that they may thoroughly understand and be masters of it. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A title given by courtesy, now commonly pronounced except when given to boys; -- sometimes written Mister, but usually abbreviated to Mr. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A young gentleman; a lad, or small boy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where there are little masters and misses in a house, they are impediments to the diversions of the servants. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Naut.) The commander of a merchant vessel; -- usually called captain. Also, a commissioned officer in the navy ranking next above ensign and below lieutenant; formerly, an officer on a man-of-war who had immediate charge, under the commander, of sailing the vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A person holding an office of authority among the Freemasons, esp. the presiding officer; also, a person holding a similar office in other civic societies. [ 1913 Webster ]

Little masters, certain German engravers of the 16th century, so called from the extreme smallness of their prints. --
Master in chancery, an officer of courts of equity, who acts as an assistant to the chancellor or judge, by inquiring into various matters referred to him, and reporting thereon to the court. --
Master of arts, one who takes the second degree at a university; also, the degree or title itself, indicated by the abbreviation M. A., or A. M. --
Master of the horse, the third great officer in the British court, having the management of the royal stables, etc. In ceremonial cavalcades he rides next to the sovereign. --
Master of the rolls, in England, an officer who has charge of the rolls and patents that pass the great seal, and of the records of the chancery, and acts as assistant judge of the court. Bouvier. Wharton. --
Past master, (a) one who has held the office of master in a lodge of Freemasons or in a society similarly organized. (b) a person who is unusually expert, skilled, or experienced in some art, technique, or profession; -- usually used with at or of. --
The old masters, distinguished painters who preceded modern painters; especially, the celebrated painters of the 16th and 17th centuries. --
To be master of one's self, to have entire self-control; not to be governed by passion. --
To be one's own master, to be at liberty to act as one chooses without dictation from anybody. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Master, signifying chief, principal, masterly, superior, thoroughly skilled, etc., is often used adjectively or in compounds; as, master builder or master-builder, master chord or master-chord, master mason or master-mason, master workman or master-workman, master mechanic, master mind, master spirit, master passion, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Throughout the city by the master gate. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Master joint (Geol.), a quarryman's term for the more prominent and extended joints traversing a rock mass. --
Master key, a key adapted to open several locks differing somewhat from each other; figuratively, a rule or principle of general application in solving difficulties. --
Master lode (Mining), the principal vein of ore. --
Master mariner, an experienced and skilled seaman who is certified to be competent to command a merchant vessel. --
Master sinew (Far.), a large sinew that surrounds the hough of a horse, and divides it from the bone by a hollow place, where the windgalls are usually seated. --
Master singer. See Mastersinger. --
Master stroke, a capital performance; a masterly achievement; a consummate action; as, a master stroke of policy. --
Master tap (Mech.), a tap for forming the thread in a screw cutting die. --
Master touch. (a) The touch or skill of a master. Pope. (b) Some part of a performance which exhibits very skillful work or treatment. “Some master touches of this admirable piece.” Tatler. --
Master work, the most important work accomplished by a skilled person, as in architecture, literature, etc.; also, a work which shows the skill of a master; a masterpiece. --
Master workman, a man specially skilled in any art, handicraft, or trade, or who is an overseer, foreman, or employer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Obstinacy and willful neglects must be mastered, even though it cost blows. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To gain the command of, so as to understand or apply; to become an adept in; as, to master a science. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To own; to posses. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The wealth
That the world masters. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having the skill or power of a master; indicating or expressing power or mastery. [ 1913 Webster ]

His masterful, pale face. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

A lawless and rebellious man who held lands masterfully and in high contempt of the royal authority. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Imperious; domineering; arbitrary. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou dost speak masterly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The top and masterpiece of art. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dissimulation was his masterpiece. Claredon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Mastery; dominion; superior skill; superiority. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where noble youths for mastership should strive. Driden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Chief work; masterpiece. [ Obs. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An ironical title of respect. [ 1913 Webster ]

How now, seignior Launce! what news with your mastership? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The position or authority of a master; dominion; command; supremacy; superiority. [ 1913 Webster ]

If divided by mountains, they will fight for the mastery of the passages of the tops. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Superiority in war or competition; victory; triumph; preeminence. [ 1913 Webster ]

The voice of them that shout for mastery. Ex. xxxii. 18. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. 1 Cor. ix. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

O, but to have gulled him
Had been a mastery. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Contest for superiority. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A masterly operation; a feat. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I will do a maistrie ere I go. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Specifically, the philosopher's stone. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The act process of mastering; the state of having mastered. [ 1913 Webster ]

He could attain to a mastery in all languages. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

The learning and mastery of a tongue, being unpleasant in itself, should not be cumbered with other difficulties. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In Great Britain, an officer of the Treasury who makes all payments and disbursements, civil as well as military. He is a member of the ministry, but not of the cabinet. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. One who has charge of a post office, and the distribution and forwarding of mails. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) A petty officer who attends to the helm, binnacle, signals, and the like, under the direction of the master. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

Quartermaster general (Mil.), in the United States a staff officer, who has the rank of brigadier general and is the chief officer in the quartermaster's department; in England, an officer of high rank stationed at the War Office having similar duties; also, a staff officer, usually a general officer, accompanying each complete army in the field. --
Quartermaster sergeant. See Sergeant. [ 1913 Webster ]