A military officer responsible for supplies, equipment, and logistics for troops. In naval contexts, also responsible for navigation and signals.
From 'quarter' (lodging, from Latin 'quartarius') and 'master.' Originally referred to the ship's officer responsible for crew quarters, expanding to supply duties by the 16th century.
Napoleon famously said 'an army marches on its stomach,' making the quartermaster arguably more crucial to victory than generals—they literally fed empires and determined the outcome of wars!
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