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Glite Dictionary
dockmaster

dockmaster

1 5.6
A person who looks after work at a dock or harbor, helping ships arrive and leave
  • noun
  • /ˈdɑkˌmæs.tɚ/
translation icon : jefe de muelle

Examples

  • The dockmaster's Pomeranian.

    Road House (2024)

  • When we arrived at the harbor, the dockmaster welcomed us and provided instructions on where to moor our boat.

  • Before we could set sail, we needed to check in with the dockmaster to confirm our reservation.

  • The dockmaster ensured that all safety protocols were followed during the loading and unloading of cargo.

Synonyms

harbormaster
vsdockmaster
  • US
5 5.3

A person who manages the safe daily work of a harbor

manages overall operations without special emphasis on safety
wharfmaster
vsdockmaster
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A person who manages loading and unloading of ships at a wharf

manages wider site rather than only one quay area
wharfman
vsdockmaster
  • Archaic
8.2

A person who manages a wharf or dock and collects fees

focuses on operational management not ownership or fee collection

How Senior

harbormaster
  • US
5 5.3
dockmaster
1 5.6
supervisor
346 2.8
dockhand
1 6.7

Surface Forms

dockmaster singular
dockmasters plural

Morphology

dockmaster = dock + master (transparent) = dock + master

A straightforward compound meaning 'the person in charge of a dock', directly inferable from its parts.

Etymology

Dockmaster is made of two simple parts: dock ('a place where ships are tied up') and master ('person in charge'). So, a dockmaster is literally the 'master of the dock', the person who manages and watches over the harbor.