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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Post-, Poistmaister, -master n. [e.m.E. post-master, -ir, (1) the officer in charge of the post-messengers (1513), (2) the post-office servant at each of the post-stages (1603), also (1) med. L. (Eng.) magister postarum (1516), obs. F. maître de postes, etc.]

1. The officer at each stage on a post road, whose principal duties were to maintain horses for the conveyance of the king's despatches and to deliver the despatches or see them delivered immediately to the next stage; the officer in charge of a local post-office.See also the note to 2 below. 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI 567.
To … plaice in townes … betuix this and Beruik poistmaisteris … haifing grantit unto thame … standing fie for intertyning of hors for the pacquett … and that according to that loveabill custoume that hes beine observit in Ingland thir mony yeires bygaine 1603 Treas. Acc. MS 271 b (see Post n.² 2 (4)). 1617 Reg. Privy C. XI 181.
That Henry Kinloche, poist-maister, and Johnne Forres, his servand, wer the awaytakeairs of the said complenairis said horsse, undir the culloure and pretext of the said Harye his office of poist-maister 1619 Ib. XII 69.
Williame Arnott … , poistmaister a Colbrandispeth, [etc.] 1623 Reg. Great S. 156/2. 1631 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. IV 349 (see Post-Boy n.). 1633 Edinb. B. Rec. VII 120 (see Postmaisterschipp n.). 1641 Acts V 548/2 (see sense 2). 1642 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. VII 228 (see Post-stage n.). 1658 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 172. 1664 Annandale Corr. 308 (see Post n.² 5 e). 1673 Aberd. Council Lett. V 283.
This brugh hath ane gift of the post masters place for ane fute post from the same to Edinburgh from Inchbrakoe generall postmaster of this kingdome 1685 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 148.
The counsell discharges the toun theasurer … to pay any gratuity to Robert Mein postmaster that wes formerly in use to be payed to him for newes letters given to … the magistrats 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIV 39.
When the postmasters offices fall betwixt this [sc. Edinburgh] and Berwick that the same shall belong to the tacksmen as [etc.] 1689 Cramond Cullen Ann. 62 (see Post n.² 2 (1)). 1689 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. XIV 48.

2. A person licensed to hire out horses to travellers riding ‘post’, without his being a postmaster as above; more properly journey maister, Journe(e n. 3 c.Orig. this function was among those discharged by postmasters as in 1, and the General Postmaster of Scotland (3 below) was given supervision of both sorts of ‘postmaster’ (see quot. 1641). 1611 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 76.
[The Council] constitutis Jhonn Balany [etc.] … staibleris, the touns postmaisteris Ib. 77.
That the thesaurer caus affix brods at the postmaisters houssis 1623 Haddington Corr. 224.
To all shereffis, … eldermen of burrowis and toune constables, poistmaisteris [sc. in England] 1641 Acts V 548/2.
Quhereby the said Williame is made … his majesties first and cheefe postmaister of all his hienes postmaisteres and of all postmaisteres jornay maisteres and keeperes of jornay housis 1652 Elgin Rec. I 294.
It is condiscended that their be ane postmaster within the toune for furnishing horses vpon desyre 1668 Edinb. B. Rec. X 42.
The councill appoynts thrie honest stablers who shall be called post masters … and … shall serve the whole leidges within this burgh and all uthers repaireing therto … with sufficient horse and furnitur conforme 1678 Ib. 342. 1682 Elgin Rec. I 330.

3. The officer appointed by the government having general authority over the local post-masters as in senses 1 and 2 above. Also b. generall post-maister, post-master generall, and also maister of (the) posts, Post n.² 2 e. 1615 Reg. Privy C. X 837.
For executioun of the said poist maisteris decreittis Ib. 838.
Quhilk … his majesteis poistmaister sall quarterlie pay to thameb. 1619 Reg. Privy C. XII 82.
Sir Williame Seytoun … , generall poistmaister of this kingdome, compeirand personallie for his majesteis entres 1629 Ib. 2 Ser. III 8. 1639 Acts V 606/1.
And the generall postmaister to appoint his deputtis in everie towne … who shall sie that the keiparis of horsis exact nothing above [etc.] 1673 Aberd. Council Lett. V 283 (see 1 above). 1677 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 120.
To John Grahame post master generall 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIV 38.
Ane roupe of the said office … of postmaster generall within this kingdome