quartermaster
KWOR-ter-mas-ter
/ˈkwɔːrtərmæstər/
An officer responsible for supervising housing, food, clothing, and other equipment for a body of troops.
Focuses on the practical, day-to-day distribution of physical goods and shelter, rather than strategic combat planning.
The story behind the word. A compound of 'quarter' (meaning lodgings or camp) and 'master'. In the 15th-century navy, the quartermaster was responsible for the steerage and quarters of the ship; on land, the role expanded to managing all supplies, clothing, and equipment.
Word relationships
- supply officer: Supply officer is a modern, generic term, while quartermaster is a traditional military title with specific historical duties.
- purveyor: A purveyor is a civilian merchant who sells goods, whereas a quartermaster is a military officer who manages and distributes them.
Commonly confused with
- paymaster: A paymaster handles the financial wages of the troops, while a quartermaster handles physical supplies and lodging.
Word family
- quartermastership (noun): The office or duty of a quartermaster.
Collocations
- regimental quartermaster
- quartermaster store
- quartermaster general
Example sentences
- "We complained to the quartermaster about the poor quality of the boots, but he had no replacements to offer." A memoir of a soldier in the American Civil War.
- "On a ship, the quartermaster historically assisted the navigator and maintained the steering gear." A naval history book.
Memory hook
The master of the quarters. He decides who sleeps where and who gets what supplies in their quarters. Master of the quarters and supplies.
When not to use
Do not use for officers who command combat units directly in battle, unless referring to their supply responsibilities.
Fun facts
- In the James Bond franchise, the character 'Q' stands for Quartermaster, the officer who supplies Bond with all his high-tech gadgets.
Related words
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.