north. dial.
1. In northern English, A churchwarden.
1429. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), I. 417. Item to the kyrkmasters a nobill.
1512. Churchw. Acc. Wigtoft, Linc. (Nichols, 1797), 205. Ye cayrke maysters of Wygtoft.
1674–91. Ray, N. C. Words, 41. Kyrkmaster, Churchwarden.
1876. Mid. Yorksh. Gloss., s.v. Kirk, Kirkmaister … often heard from old Mid-Yorkshire people.
† 2. Sc. a. ‘A deacon in the church, one who has the charge of ecclesiastical temporalities’ (Jam.). b. The deacon of an incorporated trade: see DEACON 3. Obs. rare.
1505. in Pennecuik, Blue Blanket (1756), 44. Compeired … the Kirk-Master and Brether of the Surgeons and Barbaris.
1522. in Charters of St. Giles, Edin. (Bann.), 213–16. Kirk-maisters of the confrary and altare of the haly blude.
1572. Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1814), III. 76*. Thair was not Kirkmaisteris or Deaconis appointit in the Parochinnis to ressaue the taxatioun appointit.
