† 1. An officer of artillery who superintended the manufacture of explosives or fireworks. Obs.
1622. F. Markham, Bk. War, III. ii. 87. The Fier-Master being he that hath the art how to make and compound all manner of Fire-workes, and hath the charge for the vse and imployment of the same.
1688. Capt. J. S., Fortif., 132. By this, a Fire-Master may lay his Granado … at any place.
1692. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., II. xiv. 110. Discovered by Mr. Valentine Pyne, late Fire-Master of England.
1708. J. Chamberlayne, The Present State of Great-Britain, II. III. (1743), 108. Mr. Watson, Firemaster to the Grenadiers.
1824. Byron, To Hancock, 7 Feb. I should as soon have expected to hear a volcano sneeze, as a fire-master (who is to burn a whole fleet) exclaim against the atmosphere.
b. (See quot.)
1876. Voyle, A Military Dictionary (ed. 3), 139/1. The designation of fire-master is still known in the ordnance branch of the service; he is an officer of the royal artillery, and is entrusted with the inspection of ordnance stores at foreign stations.
2. A local title given to the chief officer of a firebrigade.
1865. Ann. Reg., 5. The fire-master [in Edinburgh] and others had reason to be grateful for their deliverance.
