Dictionary

workmaster en · NOUN

Etymology

From work + master.

Meanings

1. (archaic) Master workman; overseer; employer of workmen.
   • 1703, Richard Neve (pseudonym T. N. Philomath), The City and Countrey Purchaser, and Builder’s Dictionary, London: J. Sprint et al., title page, The Customs, and Methods of Measuring of all Artificers Work, concern’d in Building; together with the City and Countrey Prices, not only of Workmanship, but of Materials also: The which will be extraordinary useful in making of Bargains, or Contracts betwixt the Workmaster and Workman; and likewise in computing the Value (or Charge of Erecting) of any Fabrick, great or small.
   • It was determined upon the day at Spires, on the ninth day of April, in the year, counting from God's birth, 1464 that the workmaster, JOST DOTZINGER, of Worms, workmaster of the high chapter at Strasburg, shall have an assembly of craftsmen in his district, when three or four masters shall be taken and chosen, to come together on a certain day, as they may agree, and what is there determined on by a majority of those who are so congregated in chapters, and who are then present, and how they may decrease or increase some articles, that shall be kept throughout the whole faternity. 2011, Sean R. Bailey, Order Out Of Chaos:The Landmarks Of Freemasonry, page 118:
   • When this is over, many fine mats are distributed which are taken to the workmaster. If he is satisfied he accepts the mats, but if he is angry he rejects them. 1994, Augustin Krämer, The Samoa Islands: Material Culture, →ISBN, page 79:
   • […] Sathan the workmaster of all mischeef being greved that his own kingdome draweth to an end […] like a slie Serpent setteth snares and pitfalles innumerable, to intrap men and bring them to destruction by policie […] 1571, Arthur Golding, “Epistle Dedicatorie”, in The Psalmes of David and others. With M. John Calvins Commentaries:
2. A skilled craftsman who owns a workshop.
   • A nephrite-and-diamond imperial presentation box bearing the monogram of Czar Nicholas II, made by Fabergé workmaster Henrik Wigstron, St. Petersburg, 1900. 2014, Gerald A. Browne, Hot Siberian, →ISBN:
   • Aarne returned to his native Finland in 1891 to become a workmaster in Tampere before being hired by Faberge that same year. His workshop produced gold and silver objects many of which were translucently enamelled in the Western taste. 1980, Hermione Waterfield, Christopher Forbes, Peter Carl Fabergé, Fabergé imperial eggs and other fantasies, →ISBN, page 135:
   • AUGUST Fredrik HOLLMING (1854- 1913), born in Finland, workmaster in St. Petersburg from 1880 until his death, with a workshop at 35 Kazanskaya Street; in 1900 he moved into Fabergé's new building. 1989, Alexander Von Solodkoff, Christopher Forbes, Masterpieces from the House of Fabergé, page 155:
   • A notable collection would contain a number of cigarette boxes, authenticated, from either a variety of workmasters or from the hands of one particular workmaster. 2012, Anna M. Miller, Illustrated Guide to Jewelry Appraising: Antique, Period, and Modern, →ISBN:

Forms