# beadsman

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbiːdzmən/

## Definitions
1. A 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.
3. A poor man, supported in a beadhouse, and required to pray for the soul of its founder; an almsman.
4. 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
From earlier bedeman, from Middle English bedeman (“a petitioner”), equivalent to bead (“request, petition, prayer”) + -man.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/beadsman