Dominie
Dominie is a Scots language and Scottish English term for a Scottish schoolmaster usually of the Church of Scotland and also a term used in the US and South Africa for a minister or pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church church.
Origin
It comes from the Latin domine (vocative case of Dominus 'Lord, Master'). When the Church of Scotland began to introduce universal provision of education in Scotland after it became established as a national church in 1560, its aim was to have a university educated schoolmaster in every parish. The minister sometimes served as the dominie. Over time this came to be used as a slightly contemptuous term for a minister or for a schoolmaster.[1][2]
Many Scots hold the universal provision of education in high regard, which was one of a number of social improvements to arise from the Scots Reformation. It accounts for a difference in attitudes to education between Scotland and other UK countries.[dubious – discuss]
In the United States the same word is used to describe a pastor in the Dutch Reformed Church.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "dominie n. a schoolmaster, teacher". Scots Language Centre. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ a b "dominie". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
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