Beadle


a parish officer having various subordinate duties, as keeping order during services, waiting on the rector, etc.
sexton (def 2).
George Wells, 1903–1989, U.S. biologist and educator: Nobel Prize in Medicine 1958.
Historical Examples

He was ordered to take it off, and when he refused, it was removed by a beadle.
The Reign of Mary Tudor W. Llewelyn Williams.

The same functionary has given the name Haybittle, a compound of beadle.
The Romance of Names Ernest Weekley

The beadle, whose curiosity was excited, waited a little, and looked after them.
My Miscellanies, Vol. 2 (of 2) Wilkie Collins

He was then led by a beadle into an adjoining room, and the door locked.
Historic Boyhoods Rupert Sargent Holland

Sir Ludar, with a grim smile, locked up the beadle in his place, and flung the key into the pond.
Sir Ludar Talbot Baines Reed

Why should a beadle be comic, and his opposite a charity boy?
George Cruikshank William Makepeace Thackeray

He looked on his cabinet uniform as a beadle looks on his gold lace.
Ernest Maltravers, Complete Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Her hair, was it quaintly curly,Or as straight as a beadle’s wand?
The Book of Humorous Verse Various

The beadle, as he marshals them before the altar, sees something under the surface in this wedding-party.
Miss or Mrs.? Wilkie Collins

Next moment we were standing in the street which led to beadle Square.
My Friend Smith Talbot Baines Reed

noun
(formerly, in the Church of England) a minor parish official who acted as an usher and kept order
(in Scotland) a church official attending on the minister
(Judaism) a synagogue attendant See also shammes
an official in certain British universities and other institutions
noun
George Wells. 1903–89, US biologist, who shared the Nobel prize for physiology or medicine in 1958 for his work in genetics
n.

Old English bydel “herald, messenger from an authority, preacher,” from beodan “to proclaim” (see bid). Sense of “warrant officer, tipstaff” was in late Old English; that of “petty parish officer,” which has given the job a bad reputation, is from 1590s. French bédeau (Old French bedel, 12c.) is a Germanic loan-word.

Beadle Bea·dle (bēd’l), George Wells. 1903-1989.

American biologist. He shared a 1958 Nobel Prize for discovering how genes transmit hereditary characteristics.

Read Also:

  • Beadledom

    a stupid or officious display or exercise of authority, as by petty officials. Historical Examples And then beadledom seemed crazed, and, joined with the many ale-bibbers, were turned out to do good service in the show. The Adventures of My Cousin Smooth Timothy Templeton noun petty officialdom

  • Beadroll

    noun (archaic) a list of persons for whom prayers are to be offered Historical Examples To Jock himself it gave a keen momentary pang to see his own name only third in that beadroll of honour; but so it was. Sir Tom Mrs. Oliphant In our beadroll of the world’s greatest writers I shall mention […]

  • Beadsman

    a person who prays for another as a duty, especially when paid. an inmate of a poorhouse; almsman. Historical Examples “I ken that baith you and I are owre lang here,” replied the beadsman, as he hurried out. Wilson’s Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Various A beadsman was an inmate of an almshouse […]

  • Beadswoman

    a woman who prays for another person as a duty, especially when paid. an almswoman. Historical Examples I think the prayer never sounded as sweetly before; nor was there ever cavalier with such a beadswoman. The Fair God Lew Wallace

  • Beady eye

    noun (informal) keen watchfulness that may be somewhat hostile: he’s got his beady eye on you Historical Examples Sorrow for his loss did not prevent Noborinosuké bringing a bright and beady eye on Aoyama Shūzen. Bakemono Yashiki (The Haunted House) James S. De Benneville He was not wholly at ease, and persistently avoided the Chinaman’s […]


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