master-at-arms

American  

[mas-ter-uht-ahrmz, mah-ster-] / ˈmæs tər ətˈɑrmz, ˈmɑ stər- /

noun

masters-at-arms plural

1. an officer of a fraternal organization, veterans' society, or the like, empowered to maintain order, exclude unauthorized persons, etc. MAA

2. Navy. a petty officer who has various duties, such as keeping order on the ship, taking charge of prisoners, etc. MAA

---

master-at-arms British  

noun

1. the senior rating, of Chief Petty Officer rank, in a naval unit responsible for discipline, administration, and police duties

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• masters-at-arms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of master-at-arms

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

master-at-arms masters-at-arms

Maekar offers Ser Duncan a place at their family seat of Summerhall so he can stay with Egg and finish his own training under an approved master-at-arms.

From Salon ● Feb. 23, 2026

Adamiak is a master-at-arms, the Navy’s military police.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 25, 2022

Melville’s sailor hero opposes Claggart, the cruel master-at-arms.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 24, 2020

Denison, a master-at-arms senior chief now stationed in South Korea, was recognized with a Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his response to the shooting, as were two dozen others.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 15, 2018

"Now we must reach the king's master-at-arms, and pray that he can be trusted."

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

Order was kept by 26 polite, tough "masters-at-arms," i.e., seafaring bouncers.

From Time Magazine Archive

A dozen masters-at-arms came and went at Horn Hill, trying to turn Samwell into the knight his father wanted.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

"There's a chance for you boys to see some real action," declared one of the masters-at-arms.

From Navy Boys Behind the Big Guns Sinking the German U-Boats by Owen, R. Emmett (Robert Emmett)

But, alas! all this perfume could not be wasted for nothing; and the masters-at-arms and ship's corporals, putting this and that together, very soon burrowed into the secret.

From White Jacket or, the World on a Man-of-War by Melville, Herman

Formerly the badge of office of boatswains' mates and masters-at-arms, made of three rattans bound together with waxed twine.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir