yeoman — ONAD

yeoman /ˈyōmən, ˈjoʊmən

▸ noun

(plural yeomen)

1 historical a man holding and cultivating a small landed estate; a freeholder.

▪ a person qualified for certain duties and rights, such as to serve on juries and vote for the knight of the shire, by virtue of possessing free land of an annual value of 40 shillings.

2 historical a servant in a royal or noble household, ranking between a sergeant and a groom or a squire and a page.

3 historical a member of the yeomanry force.

4 (also yeoman of signals) (in the British Royal Navy and other Commonwealth navies) a petty officer concerned with signaling.

▪ a petty officer in the US Navy or Coast Guard performing clerical duties on board ship.

– PHRASES
yeoman service
efficient or useful help in need:

the minister has performed yeoman service for Mulroney.

– DERIVATIVES
yeomanly /ˈyōmənlē, ˈjoʊmənli

/ adjective

– ORIGIN Middle English : probably from young + man.