beachmaster

Noun

beachmaster (plural beachmasters)

1. In pinnipeds, the dominant male of a territory with whom the females exclusively mate.
   • There being so large an excess of males of breeding age, they crowded each other to the extent of leaving only fighting-room, averaging one beachmaster to seven females. The beachmasters were continually fighting for the possession of the females, often killing each other in their struggles, while...1880, Allen, J. A. (Joel Asaph), 1838-1921, History of North American pinnipeds : a monograph of the walruses, sea-lions, sea-bears and seals of North America, →OCLC
   • At the start of the breeding season, the bulls take up their positions on the beaches. Here they fight to hold on to their territory and the females that gather there. The bull that wins the battles becomes the beachmaster. His group of females is called a harem. Each beachmaster mates with as many...1987, Sanford, William R. (William Reynolds), 1927-, The Elephant Seal, →OCLC
2. An officer who supervises soldiers' disembarkation.
   • Each boat, on landing the force, to be supplied with the number of boatkeepers assigned to it, and to be under the orders of the beachmaster, to whom the names of the boatkeepers are to be given; and the beachmaster will take particular care that the boats are kept afloat, and properly arranged...1846, Vol. 1846: Bulletins of state intelligence
   • Lieutenant Rhodes, Washington, take charge transportation of Landing Force to beach ; assume duties of Beachmaster ; return boats, less armed launches, to ship when landing is completed.1879, United States Naval Institute, Proceedings of the United States Naval Institute, →OCLC
3. The caretaker of a beach.
   • Meantime the beachmaster had his boys at work on the “gréve” or pebbly beach which had to be kept thoroughly clean and free from grass and seaweed.1949, Blodwen Davies, Gaspé: Land of History and Romance