beadsman, bedeman, bedesman, bedman

[Eng. bead, s. (q.v.), and man.] A man who prays for another person. Specially 1. A priest, whose duty it was to pray for the souls of the dead. and the bedeman shall pray for the soul of the dead, and for the souls of all Christians, at the cost of the gild."- English Gilds (Ear. Eng. Text Soc.), p. 230. 2. A man who resided in a hospital or almshouse, who was supposed to be praying for the soul of the "pious founder." "Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers; For I will be thy beadsman , Valentine. Shakesp.: Treo Gent. of Verona, i. 1 3. Now : One who resides in an almshouse, formerly called a bede -house, or is supported from the funds left for the purpose of maintaining poor or decayed persons. (Jamie son.) think on your poor bedesman the day."Boott: Antiquary, ch. xxiii. King's bedesmen: What were sometimes called "blue-gowns." [BLUE-GOWN.]