Timeserver

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who prioritizes working only the minimum required hours to secure a paycheck, a device or program that synchronizes system clocks with an accurate standard time source, or a server that provides precise time data to computers in a network
2. Someone who strictly adheres to their official working hours without extra effort; a networked computer system providing accurate time synchronization; a service that ensures coordinated time standards across devices
3. A person devoted to clock-watching to fulfill job hours without extra commitment; a machine or software component distributing exact time information; a dedicated component for maintaining consistent time references within networks

Etymology: "Timeserver" is a plain compound of "time" and "server," and its history lies mostly in how the second half came to mean what it does. A "server" here is someone who serves, in the sense of working for another, and a timeserver is one who serves only for the hours he is paid for, doing just enough to avoid notice. The compound is transparent, so there is no hidden myth or surprise about its formation, only the sense of pretending to serve while really looking after oneself. The word's meaning draws on that older idea of serving an employer or master. Its figurative sense grew from people who adjusted their conduct to whatever the current authority demanded, which is why the word carries a suggestion of opportunism as well as laziness. Its literal sense of working by the clock is the more direct one, and the figurative sense extends it from hours to principles.

Synonyms: opportunist, careerist, conformist, sycophant, yes-man

Antonyms: idealist, rebel, nonconformist, maverick, dissenter