Beadsman
Preserved but no longer current.
Also seen as: Bedesman
Properly, one who prays; hence, an inmate of an almshouse* because most charities of this class were instituted so that the inmates might "pray for the soul of the founder." See BEAD. Seated with some grey beadsman.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Beadsman” mean?
Properly, one who prays; hence, an inmate of an almshouse* because most charities of this class were instituted so that the inmates might "pray for the soul of the founder." See BEAD. Seated with some grey beadsman.
Is “Beadsman” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.