A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Bedeman, Beidman, n. Also: bed-, beyd-, beed-, bead-, baid-, badman; bedemane; pl. beidsmen. [ME. and e.m.E. bedeman, ME. bedman, beodemon (c 1225); also e.m.E. bedysman (1529), beades-, beadsman.]
1. One who prays for another; especially, one receiving alms from the king to pray for his welfare.c1420 Wynt. ix. 2809.
His bedmen thai suld be … And pray for hym rycht hartfully 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 71.
To Androu blindman the Kingis beidman, … to by him met a1500 Prestis of Peblis 127.
Welcome bischopis, he said, with my blissing; Welcome beidmen, my blis & all my beld 1538–9 Treas. Acc. VII. 139.
To the badman that fyndis the haris to the Kingis grace 1542 Ib. VIII. 69.
The expensis debursit upon the Baidmen the said moneth 1599 Colville Lett. 201.
I remane your poor beadman … Io. Colville 1617 Lett. Eccl. Affairs II. 517.
To become your Maiesties beidsmen
2. An inmate of a hospital or almshouse.1492 Acta Conc. 235/2.
Ane annuale Rent … clamit on hyme be the chapellane & bedmen of sanct Paulis hospitale 1496 Ib. II. 24.
Schir David Henresone, chapellane of Sanct Pawlis Werk besyde Edinburgh and bedemen of the sammyn 1526 Reg. Soltre 93.
Prowest, prebendaris, bedmen and hospitularis of the Trinite College 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 271.
To the beidmen of the Trinetie College for thair annuall 1573 Reg. Soltre 224.
To ansuer at the instance of the beidman gif ony hes plaint to propone aganis him 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 6.
To … repair the hous of the awld hospitall in the Trinity College, quhilk wes occupeit be the beidmen of the awld fundatioun 1608 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 45.
Steilling fra James Barcar present beidman in Auld Abd. of ane yow and ane lamb 1638 Elgin Rec. II. 233.
To warn the beadmen for not keiping the kirk 1664 Decis. Lords G. 80.
It being a mortification to the use of poor beedmen [etc.] Ib.
That the beed-men should seek their relief off the craft [of hammermen] 1687 Elgin Rec. I. 342.
What flesches they find to be wnsufficient … that they distribute the samyne … to the officers and beadmen 1693 Ib. 354.
That ther be ane part … of the said mois marked … for the use of the bedmen
