beadsman

English

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

beadsman (plural beadsmen)

(historical) 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.
- 2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 499:
  Good Lord Cromwell, stand my friend: exert yourself for Thomas Howard, who is your daily beadsman, your debtor for life.
(historical, England) A poor man, supported in a beadhouse, and required to pray for the soul of its founder; an almsman.^[1]
- 1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI):
  Whereby ye shall bind me to be […] your poor beadsman for ever unto Almighty God.
(Scotland, historical) 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.