beachmasters

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
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
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