master-at-arms

[ mas-ter-uht-ahrmz, mah-ster- ]

noun,plural mas·ters-at-arms.
  1. an officer of a fraternal organization, veterans' society, or the like, empowered to maintain order, exclude unauthorized persons, etc. Abbreviation: MAA

  2. Navy. a petty officer who has various duties, such as keeping order on the ship, taking charge of prisoners, etc. Abbreviation: MAA

Origin of master-at-arms

1
First recorded in 1740–50

Words Nearby master-at-arms

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use master-at-arms in a sentence

  • The master-at-arms and all the sentinels sunk to rise no more.

    Voyage of H.M.S. Pandora | Edward Edwards
  • Paul having procured a lantern from the master-at-arms, the messmates went below with Billy.

    True Blue | W.H.G. Kingston
  • The temper of the master-at-arms was now strained to the breaking-point.

    Lochinvar | S. R. Crockett
  • The master-at-arms surveyed himself with no small satisfaction.

    Lochinvar | S. R. Crockett
  • "Pop," the Jimmy-legs, found the body and has been promoted to Chief master-at-arms.

    Biltmore Oswald | J. Thorne Smith, Jr.

British Dictionary definitions for master-at-arms

master-at-arms

nounplural masters-at-arms
  1. the senior rating, of Chief Petty Officer rank, in a naval unit responsible for discipline, administration, and police duties

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012