English Explanatory Dictionary

yeoman

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An official providing honorable service in a royal or high noble household, ranking between a squire and a page. Especially, a yeoman of the guard, a member of a ceremonial bodyguard to the UK monarch (not to be confused with a Yeoman Warder).
  2. A dependable, diligent, or loyal worker or someone who does a great service.
  3. A former class of small freeholders who farm their own land; a commoner of good standing.
  4. A subordinate, deputy, aide, or assistant.
  5. A Yeoman Warder.
  6. A clerk in the US Navy, and US Coast Guard.
  7. In a vessel of war, the person in charge of the storeroom.
  8. A member of the Yeomanry Cavalry, officially chartered in 1794 originating around the 1760s.
  9. A member of the Imperial Yeomanry, officially created in 1890s and renamed in 1907.
  10. Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Cirrochroa, of Asia and Australasia.
name
  1. A surname originating as an occupation.
  2. A town in Jefferson Township, Carroll County, Indiana, United States.

Pronunciation

/ˈjəʊ.mən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-yeoman.wav /ˈjoʊ.mən/ /ˈjəʉ.mən/ /ˈjɐʉ.mən/ /ˈjiː.mən/

Word forms

yeoman yeomen Yeomans Yeaman Youman

Etymology

From Middle English yeman, yoman, of disputed etymology: * From Old English *ġēamann, from Proto-West Germanic *gawamann, variant of *gauwjamann (compare Old Frisian gāman (“villager”), Middle High German göuman (“peasant”)), compound of Proto-West Germanic *gawi (“shire, district”) (compare Old English -ġē, -ġēa (“district, region”) (in ælġē, Sūþriġēa), West Frisian gea, goa, Dutch gouw, German Gau) + *mann (“man”). * A contraction of yong man; compare dialectal yeomath (“aftermath”) for a possible parallel.

Derived words

chief yeoman of the signals common yeoman good yeoman service king's yeoman navigator's yeoman queen's yeoman traveling yeoman yeoman archer yeoman of the chamber yeoman of the horse or carriage yeoman of the king's buttery yeoman of the king's pantry yeoman of the stores yeomanry yeomanry cavalry yeoman service yeoman's service yeoman's job yeoman usher of the black rod yeoman work yeomen of the crown yeomen of the guard yeowoman
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