Beadsman

Beadsman

Bedesman, or beadsman (Med. Eng. bede, prayer, fromO. Eng. biddan, to pray; literally "a man of prayer") was generallya pensioner or almsman whose duty it was to pray for his benefactor.

In Scotland there were public almsmen supported bythe king and expected in return to pray for his welfare and thatof the state. These men wore long blue gowns with a pewterbadge on the right arm, and were nicknamed "Blue Gowns".Their number corresponded to the king's years, an extra one beingadded each royal birthday. They were privileged to ask almsthroughout Scotland. On the king's birthday each bedesmanreceived a new blue gown, a loaf, a bottle of ale, and a leathernpurse containing a penny for every year of the king's life. Onthe pewter badge which they wore were their name and thewords "pass and repass," which authorized them to ask alms.In 1833 the appointment of bedesmen was stopped, and in 1863the last payment was paid to a bedesman.

In consequence ofits use in this general sense of pensioner, "bedesman" was longused in English as equivalent to "servant." The word had aspecial sense as the name for those almsmen attached to cathedralsand other churches, whose duty it was to pray for the souls ofdeceased benefactors. A relic of pre-Reformation times, theseold men still figure in the accounts of English cathedrals.

References

*1911


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  • Beadsman — Beads man, Bedesman Bedes man, n.; pl. { men}. A poor man, supported in a beadhouse, and required to pray for the soul of its founder; an almsman. [1913 Webster] Whereby ye shall bind me to be your poor beadsman for ever unto Almighty God. Fuller …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • beadsman — (n.) one who prays for another s benefit, early 13c.; see BEAD (Cf. bead) (n.) + MAN (Cf. man) (n.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • beadsman — [bēdz′mən] n. pl. beadsmen [bēdz′mən] [ME bedeman < bede, prayer (see BEAD) + man,MAN] Obs. 1. a person who prays for another, esp. one paid to do so 2. a person in a poorhouse …   English World dictionary

  • beadsman — noun Date: 13th century archaic one who prays for another …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • beadsman — /beedz meuhn/, n., pl. beadsmen. Archaic. 1. a person who prays for another as a duty, esp. when paid. 2. an inmate of a poorhouse; almsman. [1200 50; bead s man man of prayer; r. ME bedeman. See BEAD, S1, MAN1] * * * …   Universalium

  • beadsman — monk or almoner who prays for benefactor Ecclesiastical Terms …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • beadsman — n. almsman; person who prays for another as duty …   English contemporary dictionary

  • beadsman — noun (plural beadsmen) historical a pensioner provided for by a benefactor in return for prayers …   English new terms dictionary

  • beadsman — n.; (also beadswoman) Intercessor, pleader, one s humble or obedient servant, one s to command, etc …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • beadsman — beads·man …   English syllables

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