beadsman noun. ['bi:dzmǝn] Orig. beadman; also (arch.) bedesman. Pl. -men. ME.
[from BEAD noun + MAN noun: prob. altered after almsman.]
Hist.
1. A person who prays for the soul of another. ME.
your beadsman: used as a conventional form when writing to a superior or patron.

2. A person paid to pray for others; a pensioner bound to pray for his benefactors, an almsman; (in Scotland) a public almsman, a licensed beggar. LME.

3. A petitioner. LME.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲