drillmaster

American

[dril-mas-ter, -mah-ster] / ˈdrɪlˌmæs tər, -ˌmɑ stər /

noun

a person who trains others in something, especially routinely or mechanically.
Military. a person who instructs in marching drill.

drillmaster British

/ ˈdrɪlˌmɑːstə /

noun

Also called: drill sergeant. obsolete a military drill instructor
a person who instructs in a strict manner

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of drillmaster

First recorded in 1865–70; drill ¹ + master

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The flamboyant “colonel,” as Forbes styled himself, struck Brown as the perfect drillmaster for the volunteer force he planned to train.

From BusinessWeek • Oct. 19, 2011

General Stewart was an ideal superintendent in such a conception: 31 years an infantryman, an expert and exacting drillmaster.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thus the precise drillmaster came to grips with the wielder of superlative power.

From Time Magazine Archive

The first surprise of Bandung was that they spoke with many voices and accepted no drillmaster.

From Time Magazine Archive

Sylvester E., drillmaster, 3; election official, 267; aid from, 13; promoted, 250, 286; at Buntyn Station, 25; Memphis, 28.

From An Artilleryman's Diary by Jones, Jenkins Lloyd

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023