WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Quar"ter*mas`ter
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [Quarter + master: cf. F. quartier- ma?tre.]
Definition : 1. (Mil.)

Defn: An officer whose duty is to provide quarters, provisions, storage, clothing, fuel, stationery, and transportation for a regiment or other body of troops, and superintend the supplies.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: A petty officer who attends to the helm, binnacle, signals, and the like, under the direction of the master. Totten. 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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913