Bargemasters

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who manages a barge and oversees its cargo and navigation along waterways
2. An individual responsible for the operation of a barge, including the management of both crew and freight logistics
3. The title for someone in charge of a barge, tasked with ensuring its safe transport and handling of goods

Etymology: "Bargemasters" is the plural of "bargemaster", a compound of "barge" and "master". The plural simply adds the -s that English nouns take, so the form adds nothing beyond the number of people involved. "Barge" came into English from Old French "barge", and "master" comes from Old English "mæger" or "magister"-derived forms in the medieval period; the combined "bargemaster" is a straightforward transparent compound. Its sense has stayed close to the literal: a person in charge of a barge and everything aboard it.