Drillmaster

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who instructs and trains others in precise, repetitive movements or procedures, especially in military or ceremonial contexts
2. An individual responsible for teaching and directing others in meticulous, systematic practices, often seen in military or formal settings
3. A trainer who guides and oversees the execution of exact, repeated actions, particularly in military formations or events

Etymology: Drill is a compound of two plain English words, and the surprise lies in the first one. "Drill" once meant to train soldiers in a set series of movements, and its older roots reach back to a Dutch word for turning or boring, which is why a drill and a drill-sergeant share a sense of repetitive, exact practice. A drillmaster is simply the person who runs that practice: the instructor who makes recruits repeat a movement until it becomes automatic. The second half, master, is the familiar word for someone in charge of or skilled at something, so the compound describes its job without any metaphor. Military training was a natural place for such a plain formation, since the work was exactly what the name says.

Synonyms: instructor, trainer, teacher