Definition
The principal person in charge of managing a flock of sheep or the chief officer responsible for a flock's care and breeding.
Etymology
From 'flock' plus 'master,' following the medieval pattern of naming the head official of any operation (like 'postmaster' or 'headmaster').
Kelly Says
In medieval England, flockmasters were respected professionals who certified the quality of wool and could literally make or break a farmer's fortunes—wool was that valuable!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
እንስሳ አባት
in-sa-a aba-t
CACatalà
cap de ramat
kap deh ra-mat
CSČeština
vodce stáda
vohd-tse sta-da
DADansk
flocksjef
flocks-shef
DEDeutsch
Herdenführer
her-den-fyu-her
ELΕλληνικά
ηγγηγός
ig-gos
ESEspañol
maestro de rebaño
ma-es-troh deh reh-ahn-yoh
FAفارسی
رعیتبان
ra-ei-te-ban
FISuomi
laumanjohtaja
lau-man-joh-dan-na
FRFrançais
maître du troupeau
mɛtʁ dy tru-po
GUGU
ચાણાના માલિક
cha-na-na ma-li-k
HAHA
shugaban kwatir
shu-ga-ban kw-a-tir
HEעברית
רועה צאן
ro-eh tzan
HIहिन्दी
मुर्गी पालक
moo-ree paal-ak
IDBahasa Indonesia
pemimpin kawanan
pemimpin kawanan
IGIG
onye na-akpụ
oh-nye na-ak-pu
ITItaliano
capobranco
ka-po-bran-ko
KKKK
шылау басшы
shy-lau bas-shy
KMKM
ប្រធាន ទាហាន
pra-thaa-n tea-haan
MSBahasa Melayu
pemimpin kawanan
pemimpin kawanan
MYမြန်မာ
ကျောက်ကြီး
chaw-kya-kree
NLNederlands
schaapherder
schaap-her-der
NONorsk
flokkmester
flokk-mes-ter
PLPolski
pasyarz
pa-syarz
PTPortuguês
mestre do rebanho
mɛs-trɛ du reh-ˈbaŋku
RORomână
stăpân al turmei
stah-pan al tur-mei
SVSvenska
flockenherde
flock-en-her-deh
SWKiswahili
mkuu wa kundi
m-koo-oo wa kundi
TAதமிழ்
மாடு மேய்ப்பவர்
maadu mey-ipp-avar
TEతెలుగు
పశువుల నాయకుడు
pa-shu-vu-la na-ya-ku-du
THไทย
ผู้คุมฝูง
poo-kum-fong
TLTL
pinuno ng kawan
pee-noo-noh ng kaw-an
TRTürkçe
kuyucu
koo-yook-oo
UKУкраїнська
пастух
pa-stuh
VITiếng Việt
người chăn đàn
ngoo-ee chan-dan
YOYO
olúgbọ̀n
oh-loo-gbon
ZUZU
isikhulu sezintaba
is-i-khu-lu se-zi-n-ta-ba
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Compounds 'master' (historically male authority figure) with occupational context. Implies male leadership in pastoral/textile economies despite women's documented roles in flock oversight.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'flock manager', 'flock supervisor', or 'pastoral overseer' to describe the role's function rather than gendered authority structure.
Inclusive Alternatives
["flock manager","pastoral supervisor","flock overseer","wool manager"]
Empowerment Note
Historical records document female abbesses, landowners, and merchants managing large flocks and wool operations; the 'master' framing erases their agency.