[UNDER-1 6 a. Cf. MDu. and Du. ondermeester, MLG. undermêster, MHG. undermeister.]
1. A subordinate instructor; esp. in schools, a master or teacher below the headmaster.
By Wyclif used to render L. pædagogus.
1388. Wyclif, Gal. iii. 24. And so the lawe was oure vndirmaister in Crist. Ibid., 25. Aftir that bileue cam, we ben not now vndur the vndurmaistir.
1561. in H. B. Wilson, Hist. Merchant Taylors’ Sch. (1814), 14. The high maister … shall say to the ussher,… I have chosen you to be the chief ussher or under maister of this schoole.
1598. Florio, Sottomaestro, an vnder master, an vsher of a schoole.
1709. Ir. Act 8 Anne c. 3 § 16. Several protestant school-masters … do entertain such persons … to be ushers, under-masters, or assistants.
1784. Johnson, 13 June, in Boswell. They were written by one Lewis, who was either under-master or an usher of Westminster school.
1862. Mrs. H. Wood, Mrs. Hallib., I. iv. [He] was earning his own living as an under-master in a school.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 250. Masters and under-masters of choruses.
2. A subordinate director or supervisor. rare.
1688. Lond. Gaz., No. 2322/3. The Under-Master of the Horse. Ibid. (1703), No. 3914/4. The Earl of Marr served as Carver,… and Sir William Enstruther, Baronet, as under Master Houshold.
