Meister
Encyclopedia
Meister means master in German
(as in master craftsman
, or as an honorific title such as Meister Eckhart
). The word is akin to maestro
. Many modern day German police forces use the title Meister. During the Second World War, Meister was the highest enlisted rank of the Ordnungspolizei
.
Meister has been borrowed into English
slang
, where it is used in compound nouns. A person referred to as “Meister” is one who has extensive theoretical knowledge and practical skills in his profession, business, or some other kind of work or activity. For example, a “puzzle-meister” would be someone highly skilled at solving puzzles. These neologisms sometimes have a sarcastic intent (for example, “stubble-meister” for someone with a short, neat beard or “crier-meister” for someone who often cries).
word "magister" (teacher).
In Germany
and Austria
, the word Meister is a title in the crafts guilds
, in which workers go up in rank from a Geselle (journeyman
) to become a "Meister" of their trade.
refers to himself as "the Stif-meister." At one point in the movie, he says, "Let the Stif-meister handle it. 'Meister' means 'Master' in German."
The mayor in the 1970 animated movie Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
is called "Burgermeister Meisterburger."
, Meisters (職人, Shokunin, meaning "craftsman," "mechanic," "worker") are people who have exceptional soul wavelengths and are paired with weapons.
In the 2007 anime Mobile Suit Gundam 00
, the pilots of the mobile suits are called Gundam Meisters.
In the manga series Ao no Exorcist
, meisters are a rank of exorcists.
driver Michael Schumacher
is called Der Regenmeister (the rain master) due to his highly rated driving through low-visibility or wet conditions. The same term has also been applied to other race drivers.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
(as in master craftsman
Master craftsman
A master craftsman or master tradesman was a member of a guild. In the European guild system, only masters were allowed to be members of the guild....
, or as an honorific title such as Meister Eckhart
Meister Eckhart
Eckhart von Hochheim O.P. , commonly known as Meister Eckhart, was a German theologian, philosopher and mystic, born near Gotha, in the Landgraviate of Thuringia in the Holy Roman Empire. Meister is German for "Master", referring to the academic title Magister in theologia he obtained in Paris...
). The word is akin to maestro
Maestro
Maestro is a title of extreme respect given to a master musician. The term is most commonly used in the context of Western classical music and opera. This is associated with the ubiquitous use of Italian vocabulary for classical music terms...
. Many modern day German police forces use the title Meister. During the Second World War, Meister was the highest enlisted rank of the Ordnungspolizei
Ordnungspolizei
The Ordnungspolizei or Orpo were the uniformed regular police force in Nazi Germany between 1936 and 1945. It was increasingly absorbed into the Nazi police system. Owing to their green uniforms, they were also referred to as Grüne Polizei...
.
Meister has been borrowed into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
, where it is used in compound nouns. A person referred to as “Meister” is one who has extensive theoretical knowledge and practical skills in his profession, business, or some other kind of work or activity. For example, a “puzzle-meister” would be someone highly skilled at solving puzzles. These neologisms sometimes have a sarcastic intent (for example, “stubble-meister” for someone with a short, neat beard or “crier-meister” for someone who often cries).
Etymology
Meister is derived from the LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word "magister" (teacher).
In Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, the word Meister is a title in the crafts guilds
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
, in which workers go up in rank from a Geselle (journeyman
Journeyman
A journeyman is someone who completed an apprenticeship and was fully educated in a trade or craft, but not yet a master. To become a master, a journeyman had to submit a master work piece to a guild for evaluation and be admitted to the guild as a master....
) to become a "Meister" of their trade.
Movies
The character Stifler in American PieAmerican Pie (film)
American Pie is a 1999 teen comedy film written by Adam Herz. American Pie was the directorial film debut of brothers Paul and Chris Weitz, and the first film in the American Pie film series...
refers to himself as "the Stif-meister." At one point in the movie, he says, "Let the Stif-meister handle it. 'Meister' means 'Master' in German."
The mayor in the 1970 animated movie Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (TV special)
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town is a 1970 stop motion television special, made by Rankin-Bass with models carved from wood . The film stars actor Fred Astaire as S.D. Kluger, the narrator, and Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle/Santa Claus...
is called "Burgermeister Meisterburger."
Music
- "Der Meister" is the title of a song by the German band RammsteinRammsteinRammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band from Berlin, formed in 1994. The band consists of members Till Lindemann , Richard Z. Kruspe , Paul H. Landers , Oliver "Ollie" Riedel , Christoph "Doom" Schneider and Christian "Flake" Lorenz...
.
- Meister is the alias used by Ryo Matsuithe for his solo work. Matsuithe gained prominence as a guitarist and songwriter for the Japanese pop rock band The Brilliant GreenThe brilliant greenThe Brilliant Green is a Japanese pop rock band formed in 1997 who were signed to Sony Music Entertainment Japan. On December 1, 2009, The Brilliant Green announced that they had signed with Warner Music Group Japan.-Overview:...
.
Anime/Manga
In the manga series Soul EaterSoul Eater (manga)
is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Atsushi Ōkubo. Set at the "Death Weapon Meister Academy," the series revolves around three teams consisting of a weapon meister and human weapon...
, Meisters (職人, Shokunin, meaning "craftsman," "mechanic," "worker") are people who have exceptional soul wavelengths and are paired with weapons.
In the 2007 anime Mobile Suit Gundam 00
Mobile Suit Gundam 00
is an anime TV series, the eleventh incarnation of Sunrise's long-running Gundam franchise consisting of two seasons. It is directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, and features character designs by Yun Kōga. The twenty-five episode season was officially announced by Sunrise...
, the pilots of the mobile suits are called Gundam Meisters.
In the manga series Ao no Exorcist
Ao no Exorcist
is a manga written and illustrated by Kazue Kato. The manga has been serialized in Jump Square magazine by Shueisha since April 2009, with individual chapters collected into six tankōbon volumes as of April 4, 2011. The one-shot of the manga was first featured in the September 2008 issue of Jump...
, meisters are a rank of exorcists.
Automobile racing
Formula OneFormula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
driver Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher is a German Formula One racing driver for the Mercedes GP team. Famous for his eleven-year spell with Ferrari, Schumacher is a seven-time World Champion and is widely regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time...
is called Der Regenmeister (the rain master) due to his highly rated driving through low-visibility or wet conditions. The same term has also been applied to other race drivers.