beadsman

B3E1A1D2S1M3A1N1
/ˈbiːdzmən/

noun

A petitioner; someone who seeks some type of favour from another, usually from a superior.

Similar
bedesman
OriginMiddle English bedeman →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounbeadsman (plural beadsmen)

plural beadsmen · alternative bedesman

  1. historicalA petitioner; someone who seeks some type of favour from another, usually from a superior.
  2. A man employed in praying; especially one who prays for another.

    Good Lord Cromwell, stand my friend: exert yourself for Thomas Howard, who is your daily beadsman, your debtor for life.

    2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 499
  3. EnglandhistoricalA poor man, supported in a beadhouse, and required to pray for the soul of its founder; an almsman.

    Whereby ye shall bind me to be […]your poor beadsman for ever unto Almighty God.

    1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI)
  4. ScotlandhistoricalA 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.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna male person who is paid to pray for the soul of another

Similar
bedesman
Broader
prayersupplicantmanadult male

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishbedeman“a petitioner”
  2. Englishbeadsman

From earlier bedeman, from Middle English bedeman (“a petitioner”), equivalent to bead (“request, petition, prayer”) + -man.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

beadsman. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beadsman

MLA

“beadsman.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beadsman. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “beadsman,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beadsman.

Source: beadsman on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.