Fagmaster
/ˈfæɡˌmɑːstə/noun
A historical British school term for a senior pupil responsible for supervising or assigning a younger pupil’s fagging duties.
Did you know?In the British public-school system, “fagging” made younger pupils perform errands and menial work for older boys, a hierarchy later criticized as institutionalized bullying.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meg-
“Great or powerful; the distant root associated with Latin magister, “master.””
Classical Latin
Latin
magister
“Master, leader, teacher, or person in authority.”
Old French
Old French
maistre
“Master, teacher, or skilled authority figure.”
Middle English
English
maister
“A master, superior, teacher, or person who commands.”
18th Century
English
fag
“A younger schoolboy required to perform errands and menial work for an older pupil.”
19th Century
English
fag-master
“A senior schoolboy who controlled or supervised a fag and the duties assigned to him.”
Modern English
English
fagmaster
“A rare historical term referring to that senior pupil or supervisor in the fagging system.”
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