Meanings
plural trainmasters
- USrail transportA superintendent or supervisor of a freight railroad, responsible for train movements, crew assignments, derailments and more.
In the past, trainmasters were promoted brakemen or conductors who retained their union seniority.
1 more example
Trainmasters are American officials, who perform duties somewhat akin to those of a British controller, but with obvious differences dictated by the different operating conditions in America.
1946 March and April, “The Why and The Wherefore: The Duties of Yardmasters, Controllers and Trainmasters”, in Railway Magazine, page 127
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*dʰregʰ-der.?
- Latintrahere
- Vulgar Latin*tragīnāre
- Old Frenchtraïner
- Old Frenchtrain
- Middle Englishtrayne
- Englishtrain
- Proto-Indo-European*meǵh₂-
- Proto-Indo-European*meh₂-
- Proto-Italic*magisteros
- Latinmagister, magistrum
- Old Frenchmaistre
- Latinmagister
- Old Englishmǣġester
- Middle Englishmaister
- Englishmaster
- Englishtrainmaster
Cite this entry
trainmaster. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trainmaster
“trainmaster.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trainmaster. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “trainmaster,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trainmaster.
Source: trainmaster on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.