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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BEDDELL, n. A licensed beggar. Also used attrib. [′bɛdəl]Mearns 1698 Baron Court Bk. of Urie (1892) 103:
His said balzie . . . ordainis half ane peck of meall weekly to Margaret Lyell and her children, which quantity of victuall to be given out to beddells.Gall. 1708 Session Bk. of Penninghame (1933) I. 222:
The said Margaret, accuses Agnes M'Master of calling her a beddell bitch.

[This meaning is not found in O.Sc., in which bedel means a decrepit person. Perhaps it may be from the same stem as bede in Bede(s)man, bid one's bedes, O.E. biddan, to pray, to ask, pa.p. beden.]

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