noun. The officer in charge of money matters on board a ship or commercial aircraft.

noun. An official charged with the keeping of accounts and the disbursing of money; specifically, an officer who keeps the accounts of a ship, and has charge of the provisions, pay, etc.: now called in the navy paymaster.

noun. In mining, the paymaster or cashier of a mine, and the official to whom notices of transfer are sent for registration in the cost-book.

noun. A commissioned officer in the navy who had charge of the provisions, clothing, and public moneys on shipboard; -- now called paymaster.

noun. A clerk on steam passenger vessels whose duty it is to keep the accounts of the vessels, such as the receipt of freight, tickets, etc.

noun. Colloquially, any paymaster or cashier.

noun. a false name.

noun. The person responsible for handling the accounts on a ship, or for dealing with the passengers on a ship or aircraft.

noun. an officer aboard a ship who keeps accounts and attends to the passengers' welfare

"Town, with a certain Irish purser, who is as well known as he is respected among the leviathan old negro ladies, it would be hard to find."