Also 7 barge-, 7–8 bergh-, 8 bargh-. [Formerly barghmaster, ad. Ger. bergmeister, f. berg- mining.] A local judge amongst miners: see quot.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, I. 229. The Barge-Master keeps his two great Courts twice a year in Barge-Moot Hall … to decide Controversies, and punish offences betwixt Miners.
1721. Bailey, Bargh-master, the Surveyor of a Mine.
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., s.v. Bill, By the Assistance of the Barmaster.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, I. 292. Bar-master, in Derbyshire, the authority to whom all disputes in lead-mining are referred. He has charge of the standard ‘dish’ or measure used in measuring the ore.
