'schoolmaster' originates from two elements: 'school' (from Latin 'schola') and 'master' (from Latin 'magister'). 'schola' meant 'school, lecture' and 'magister' meant 'teacher' or 'chief'.

'schoolmaster' changed from Middle English forms such as 'scolemaistre' or 'scolemaister' (a compound of 'scole/school' + 'maistre/master') and eventually became the modern English word 'schoolmaster'.

Initially, it meant 'the master (teacher) of a school'; over time the basic meaning has remained, though modern usage can be somewhat formal or old-fashioned and in some contexts emphasizes a head or senior teacher.