Where does “vaktmästare” come from?

vaktmästare (Swedish) comes from Swedish mästare, from Old Swedish mæstare, from Old Norse meistari, from Middle Low German meister, from Old Saxon mēstar, from Old French maistre, from Latin magister, from Proto-Italic magisteros — big, great.

vaktmästare (Swedish): A janitor, a caretaker: a broad occupation whose specifics vary by setting, but mainly responsible for maintaining a building and its outdoor areas, focusing primarily on repairs, utilities, structural upkeep, and logistical tasks such as transport or managing deliveries; compare with handyman

Definitions

  1. A janitor, a caretaker: a broad occupation whose specifics vary by setting, but mainly responsible for maintaining a building and its outdoor areas, focusing primarily on repairs, utilities, structural upkeep, and logistical tasks such as transport or managing deliveries; compare with handyman

Ancestry of “vaktmästare”, step by step

vaktmästare traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Swedish mästare

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishmästarea master; a champion
2Old Swedishmæstare
3Old Norsemeistari
4Middle Low Germanmeister
5Old Saxonmēstar
6Old Frenchmaistremaster; Master; magister
7Latinmagisterteacher; master; a title of the Middle Ages,...
8Proto-Italicmagisterosbigger, greater
9Proto-Indo-Europeanméǵh₂isteros
10Proto-Indo-Europeanméǵh₂sbig, great

via German Wachtmeister

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanWachtmeistermaster sentinel a rank of NCO in the cavalry, equivalent to a feldwebel
2GermanWachtguard
3Middle High Germanwahte
4Old High Germanwahta
5Proto-West Germanicwahtuwatch, vigil
6Proto-Germanicwahtwōwatch, vigil
7Proto-Germanicwakanąto wake, be awake, arise
8Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵ-lively, awake; strong

via Swedish vakt

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishvaktguard
2Middle Low Germanwachteguard
3Old Saxonwahtawatch; vigil

Words derived from “vaktmästare

Every word from Proto-Indo-European méǵh₂sEvery word from Proto-Indo-European méǵh₂isterosEvery word from Proto-Italic magisteros