Pünktlich once meant more than being on time. Duden still lists an old meaning, gewissenhaft, korrekt, conscientious and correct. According to Rolf-Bernhard Essig, until about 1500 the word meant precise to the point. The saying pünktlich wie die Maurer, punctual like the bricklayers, keeps something of both. Today it is also said of a person who drops his tools exactly when work time ends.