swordmaster

English

Alternative forms

• swordsmaster

Etymology

sword +‎ master

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɔɹdˈmæs.tɚ/

Noun

swordmaster (plural swordmasters)

1. (rare) An expert or consummate swordfighter.
   • 1882, United States War Department, Annual Reports of the Secretary of War, Volume 1‎^[1], page 160:

     With ten sword instructors at West Point under the swordmaster the lessons to cadets would all be individual and special.

   • 1888, Outing, Volume 12‎^[2], Open Court Publishing Company, page 87:

     Mr. Roux’s pupils form the majority of the swordmasters at the twenty German Universities and the Polytechnic schools, and Mr. Roux is regarded as the first who taught a manner of broadsword practice which may be best called the ‘‘fencing with broadswords, in which every blow is also guard.” This practice is methodically based on the properties of the lever, the pendulum, and the wedge, and one of its funda- mental principles is to choose the shortest way of assault and the quickest ‘‘recovery.”

   • 1891, Luman Allen, Helene Sainte Maur: Secrets of a Boudoir‎^[3], Donohue, Henneberry, page 46:

     So far as it appeared to the eye, they were singularly well matched. Of the same height, with the same reach of arm; broad of chest and narrowing at the hips; with well turned limbs and supple in wrist and ankle, an experienced swordmaster would have pronounced them admirable antagonists.

   • 1908, First Class, United States Naval Academy, Lucky Bag‎^[4], First Class, United States Naval Academy, page 210:

     He has given the sport a lifelong devotion, and to his unfailing interest and enthusiasm are due the success of our teams. We also owe much to the other swordmasters for their patient work with us in our preliminary training. To these, for the Academy, we wish to extend our thanks and appreciation.

   • 1919, United States Congress, House Committee on Naval Affairs, Estimates Submitted by the Secretary of the Navy, 1919‎^[5], U.S. Government Printing Office, →ISBN, page 225:

     We recommended increasing the pay of one swordmaster to $1,800; and of assistants, one at $1,600 instead of $1,500, and one at $1,400 instead of $1,300, and so on.

   • 1964, John Telfer Dunbar, History of Highland Dress: A Definitive Study of the History of Scottish Costume and Tartan, Both Civil and Military, Including Weapons‎^[6], Dufour Editions, page 194:

     The swordmasters of Europe sing the praises of this weapon from the beginning of the sixteenth century to its close, by which time its use had almost entirely disappeared. In Scotland, however, it appears to have continued in use for almost another half century, and it has been said that it made an appearance at the battle of Kilhecrankie in 1689.

Coordinate terms

• swordmistress