A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Schip-maister, -ir, S(c)hip-master, n. [Late ME and e.m.E. schypmayster (Prompt. Parv.); S(c)hip n. and Maister n.]
1. The master, skipper or captain of a ship. = Maister n. 10.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 368.
Ay wes the schipmaster gowand A-pon the laydy brycht of ble c1475 Wall. ix 61.
The schip master on to the top he went Ib. 121.
Bathe schip maistir, and the ster man also, In the holl, but baid, he gert thaim go ?1618 Melrose P. *625.
The commissioners for the bourrowes and schipmaisters haue bene before the counsell(2) 1592 Misc. New Spald. C. I 83.
Measone, William (shipmaster) c1690 in Cunningham Diary 130.
Robert Millar, shipmaster of Saltcoats
2. ? A master shipwright. But perhaps merely another instance of 1 above.1682 Peden Lords Trumpet 26.
Even as a ship-master or a ship carpenter does with the great planks when they build a ship
