Zeitnehmer

Zeitnehmer is a German term meaning timekeeper, referring to a person or device responsible for determining and recording the time of events. The word combines Zeit (time) and nehmen (to take). In practice, a Zeitnehmer may be an official at an event or a stand-alone timing device used to measure durations and finish times.

In sports, the Zeitnehmer is typically charged with starting the clock at the beginning of a race or activity and stopping it at the moment the event ends. They may also verify and record results, often in cooperation with officials such as the starter and the finish judge. With the advent of electronic timing, a Zeitnehmer can operate stopwatches, control central timing systems, or monitor sensors that automatically emit finish-time signals.

Beyond sports, Zeitnehmer can refer to devices used in laboratory experiments and industrial processes to measure durations, reaction times, or throughput. In these contexts, accuracy and synchronization with other measurement systems are important, and the timekeeper may be part of a broader metrology or quality-control framework.

Equipment and methods vary from traditional mechanical or digital stopwatches to electronic timing systems, photoelectric sensors, transponders, and networked timers. Modern events often combine automatic timing with human oversight to ensure reliability and to handle anomalies or disputes. Related concepts include Zeitmessung (time measurement) and Stoppuhr (stopwatch).