Yeoman

yō′man, n. in early English history, a common menial attendant, but after the fifteenth century, one of a cla of small freeholders, forming the next grade below gentlemen: a man of small estate, any small farmer or countryman above the grade of labourer: an officer of the royal household: a member of the yeomanry cavalry: ( Shak. ) a journeyman, a istant: a gentleman in a royal or noble household, ranking between a sergeant and a groom.— adj. Yeo′manly , of yeoman's rank: humble and honest.— adv. staunchly, bravely.— n. Yeo′manry , the collective body of yeomen or smaller freeholders: a cavalry volunteer force in Great Britain, formed during the wars of the French Revolution, its organisation by counties, under the lords-lieutenant, raised and drilled locally, the men providing their own horses and uniform.— Yeomen of the guard , a veteran company of picked soldiers, employed in conjunction with the gentlemen-at-arms on grand occasions as the sovereign's bodyguard—constituted a corps in 1485 by Henry VII., and still wearing the costume of that period; Yeoman's service , powerful aid, such as came from the yeomen in the English armies of early times. [M. E. yom an , yemen , doubtle from an A.S. gáman , not found, but seen in Old Frisian gāman , villager— gā , a village (Ger. gau , district), man , man.]