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Glite Dictionary
wharfmaster

wharfmaster

1 8.2
A person who manages loading and unloading of ships at a wharf
  • noun
  • /ˈwɔrfˌmæs.tɚ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : muellero
  • Have you met the new wharfmaster yet?

Examples

  • The wharfmaster ensured all cargo was loaded safely.

  • The wharfmaster ensured that all cargo was loaded and unloaded safely at the busy port.

  • After a long day, the wharfmaster reviewed the schedule for the next shipment arrivals.

  • Every morning, the wharfmaster inspected the wharf to make sure it was ready for incoming vessels.

  • The wharfmaster ensured that all cargo was properly loaded onto the ships.

  • As the wharfmaster, he coordinated the arrival and departure of various vessels.

  • Every morning, the wharfmaster inspected the docks to maintain safety standards.

Synonyms

harbormaster
vswharfmaster
  • US
5 5.3

A person who manages the safe daily work of a harbor

focuses on one ship loading structure rather than the whole port area
dockmaster
vswharfmaster
1 5.6

A person who looks after work at a dock or harbor, helping ships arrive and leave

is specific to a single ship loading structure rather than broader port areas
wharfman
vswharfmaster
  • Archaic
8.2

A person who manages a wharf or dock and collects fees

focuses on managing operations rather than collecting fees or owning

Surface Forms

wharfmaster singular
wharfmasters plural

Morphology

wharfmaster = wharf + master (transparent) = wharf + master

The compound is a straightforward combination of 'wharf' and the agentive 'master' meaning a person in charge, so the sense is directly derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Wharfmaster combines wharf and master: wharf is an old English word for a 'dock' where ships load, and master means 'person in charge'. So a wharfmaster is the person who runs the dock and looks after the loading, unloading and daily work there.