beadsman

English

/ˈbiːdzmən/

noun
Definitions
  • (historic) A petitioner; someone who seeks some type of favour from another, usually from a superior.
  • A man employed in praying; especially one who prays for another.
  • (historical) A poor man, supported in a beadhouse, and required to pray for the soul of its founder; an almsman.
  • (Scotland) A public almsman; one who received alms from the king, and was expected in return to pray for the royal welfare and that of the state; a licensed beggar.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English bedeman (a petitioner) suffix from English bead (prayer, request, later also bead, petition).

Origin

English

bead

Gloss

prayer, request, later also bead, petition

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms