"A fencing instructor", Mid 19th cent.; earliest use found in Henry Angelo (1756–1835), fencing master and memoirist. From French maître d'armes from maître teacher + d' + armes arms, weapons. Middle French maistre is used in this specific sense from 1461, and maistre en fait d'armes from 1538.[maître d'armes etymology, maître d'armes origin, 英语词源]