Yeoman

Pl. yeomen. Forms: α. 4–5 ȝoman, ȝhoman, (4 ȝhuman, ȝouman), 4–7 yoman, 5 ȝoman(n)e, ȝomon, yomon, (yhoman), ȝuman, 6–7 yoeman. β. 4–6 ȝeman, (4 ȝheman), 5–7 yeman, (5 ȝemman, yemon, 6 ȝeaman, Sc. ȝieman, 8 ye’man). γ. 4–5 ȝiman, ȝyman, (4 ȝymman, 5 ȝimman, ȝymanne). δ. 5– yeoman, (7–8 Sc. zeoman). [ME. (14th cent.) ȝoman, ȝuman, ȝeman, ȝiman, prob. reduced forms of ȝong-, ȝung-, ȝeng-, ȝing-man: see YOUNGMAN, which is itself used as a designation of an attendant or servant (cf. sense 1 below), while a 12th-cent. yongerman is given in Pseudo-Cnut de Foresta § 2 as a synonym of læssþeȝenes ‘mediocres homines’ (cf. sense 4), who were intermediate between the þeʓenes ‘liberales homines’ and the tunmen ‘villani’ (cf. also OE. ʓingra vassal, follower of a prince, etc.).

  The mm found in some forms (ȝemman, ȝimman) may be a survival of the ngm of yongman. Cf. MSw. Da. jomfru, Icel. jumfrû (after LG. jumfer), and Du. juffrouw beside jonkvrouw young lady.

  The pronunciation (yī·măn) is evidenced as late as the time of Swift (see quot. 1706 in 4 β and cf. 1687 in 4 δ).

  If this word is ultimately identical with youngman, the derivation has possibly a remarkable parallel in s. w. dial. yeomath, yeemath, yemmath, youmath, yummath = aftermath, which is app. for *young math = late mowing.]

  I.  1. A servant or attendant in a royal or noble household, usually of a superior grade, ranking between a sergeant (SERGEANT sb. 7) and a groom (GROOM sb.¹ 4) or between a squire and a page.

  α.  13[?].  K. Alis., 835 (Laud MS.). To ȝoman page & joglers.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. III. 213 (MS. R.). Emperoures … han ȝoumen [C. IV. 271 ȝemen, v.rr. ȝomen, ȝimmen, ȝemmen, ȝonge men] to ȝernen and to ride.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 2628. He [sc. Arthur] made me ȝomane at Ȝole, and gafe me gret gyftes, And c. pounde, and a horse, and harnayse fulle ryche.

14[?].  in Monum. Francisc. (Rolls), 583. Commaunde ȝe that ȝoure gentilmen yomen and other dayly bere and were there robis in ȝoure presence.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 4558. Knyȝt, squiere, ȝomon & page.

1449.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 157/2. Yomen of the moste honourable Houshold of the Kyng.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, iv. 123. Came there a yoman that sayd to the duchesse … the meete is redy.

c. 1520.  Skelton, Magnyf., 2542. To day hote, to morowe outragyous colde; To day a yoman, to morowe made of page.

1593.  Lanc. Wills (Chetham Soc.), 155. I gyve unto everye one of my yomen suche as are my howseholde servants over and besyds theire waigs xx^l a peece.

  β.  1345–8.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 9. The Kinges archers, vinteners, yemen of offices in the Kinges howse.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, V. 235. Quhill I liff, and may haf mycht To lede a ȝheman or a swane.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, II. 388. A bauld squier, with him gud ȝemen twa.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XXI. iii. 845. The kyng callyd vpon hys knyghtes squyers and yemen.

1584.  Whetstone, Mirr. Mag., Cities, 15 b. Were this a lawe in England, I feare mee … we shuld haue more Gentlemen bondmen, then Yemen trustie seruantes.

  δ.  a. 1483.  Liber Niger, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 19. Our sovereyn lordes household is now discharged … of the Court of Marshalsy, and all his clerkes and yeomen.

1561.  Old Cheque-Bk. Chapel Royal (Camden), 1. Mr. Paternoster was sworne gent^l the 24th of Marche, and Jones, Gospeller, and Thos. Rawlins, Yeoman.

1571.  Golding, Calvin on Ps. vii. 14. Saule … had many yeomen at hand, that wold gladly have employed their labour too destroye David.

1607.  Dekker & Webster, Westw. Hoe, III. D 4. Come Sergeant Ambush, come yeoman Clutch, yons the Tauerne, the Gentleman will come out presently.

1713.  Swift, On Himself, 35. The waiters stand in ranks; the yeomen cry, Make room; as if a duke were passing by.

1814.  Scott, Ld. of Isles, I. xxix. Where squire and yeoman, page and groom, Plied their loud revelry.

1864.  Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 497. The folly … became in other fields A mockery to the yeomen over ale, And laughter to their lords.

  b.  An attendant or assistant to an official, etc.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 535. Gos to my vyne, ȝemen ȝonge, & wyrkes & dos þat at ȝe moun.

1363.  Rolls of Parlt., II. 278/2. Gentz de Mestere, d’Artifice & d’Office, appellez Yomen.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 101. A Yeman [v.rr. ȝeman, ȝoman] hadde he, and seruantz namo.

1552.  in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 124. Lyuery for his yemen and other baser officers.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 84. Robyn Hood had at his rule and commaundement an hundreth tall yomen.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. i. 4. Hostesse. Mr. Fang, haue you entred the Action? Fang. It is enter’d. Hostesse. Wher’s your Yeoman? Is it a lusty yeoman?

1627.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Armado, C 8. Nimble tongu’d Pettifoggers, greedy Serieants, hungry Yeomen, deuourcing Catchpoles.

1766.  Entick, London, IV. 47. Eighteen serjeants at mace, and every serjeant hath his yeoman.

1861.  Times, 26 July, 11/1. Mr. Harker, the senior Sheriff’s yeoman, read Her Majesty’s writ, authorizing the Sheriffs to proceed to the election of ‘a fit and discreet citizen’ to serve in Parliament.

1897.  J. D. Walker, in Rec. Lincoln’s Inn, I. Pref. 7. A Bencher in 1442 was entitled as of right to have a yeoman (valettus) boarded in the Inn at a charge of 14d. per week.

  c.  Yeoman’s service (also yeoman service): good, efficient, or useful service, such as is rendered by a faithful servant of good standing.

[a. 1500.  Gest of Robyn Hode, lxxx. It were greate shame sayd Robyn A knyght a lone to ryde, Without squyer yeman or page,… I shall the lene lytyll Johan my man,… In a yemans stede he may the stande, Yf thou grete nede haue.]

1602.  Shaks., Ham., V. ii. 36. I once did hold it … A basenesse to write faire;… but Sir now, It did me Yeomans seruice.

1613.  Hoby, Counter-snarle, 75. You may doe the Pope yeoman seruice indeede.

1790.  Porson, Lett. Travis, 335. One of them excused himself, because he had a withered hand; but when he came to the place, behold a miracle! his hand was restored to its strength, and did him yeoman’s service.

1807.  Scott, 11 Aug., in Fam. Lett. (1894), I. iii. 77. This [law] has done me yeoman’s service in the hour of necessity.

1857.  Hughes, Tom Brown, i. These stalwart sons of the Browns have done yeomen’s work.

1858.  De Quincey, Language, Wks. 1890, X. 247. The word ignore … has now assumed [a general meaning], with little offence to good taste, and with yeoman service to the intellect.

1884.  Illustr. Lond. News, 29 Nov., 84. The … Society has done yeoman’s service during the ten years of its existence.

  2.  With of (or for) followed by a word indicating the particular department or function, in the titles of various officials, esp. of a royal or noble household, as yeoman of the bottles, of the buttery, of the cellar, of the chamber, of the crown, of the ewery, of the horse(s, for the household, of the larder, for the mouth (MOUTH sb. 2 d), of the revels, of the robes, of the stable, of the stirrup, of the tents, of the wardrobe; so yeoman of the channel (an official of the Corporation of London: see CHANNEL sb.¹ 3 a). Hence in humorous allusion, as yeoman of the collar, a prisoner with an iron band round his neck (COLLAR sb. 5); yeoman of the cord, of the halter, a hangman, or hangman’s assistant.

1455.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 18. Richard Clerk, Yoman of the *Armurie. Ibid. Henri Est, Yoman of the *Beddes. Ibid., 19. William Wytnall, Yoman for the *botilles.

1591.  Murther John Ld. Bourgh, A 4 b. One Iohn Powell yeoman of the bottels.

1531.  in Butt, Ford’s Archery (1887), 141. Yoeman of the Kinges *bowes.

1473.  Rolls of Parlt., VI. 97/2. Richard Forster, Yoman of the *Botry of oure Houshold.

1513.  Bk. Keruynge, in Babees Bk., 270. Yoman of the *seller and ewery.

1345–8.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 4. Yeomen of the Kinges *chamber.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 62. Thre yomen of his chambre.

1438.  E. E. Wills (1882), 110. The yomen of my lordys chambre.

1708.  J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., II. III. xliii. (ed. 22), 688. Yeoman of the *Channel.

1647.  Haward, Crown Rev., 33. Yeoman of the Stirrup…. Yeoman of the Male…. Yeoman of the *close Carte.

1530.  Hickscorner (Manly), 239. Frewyll. Syr, laye you beneth, or on hye on the soller? Imag. Nay, ywys, amonge the thyckest of yemen of the *coller.

c. 1640.  J. Day, Peregr. Schol., xvii. (1881), 72. A kinsman of myne that is grome of the ladder and yeoman of the *corde.

1450.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 192/2. Yoman of the *Coroune, and Ussher of oure Chambre.

1498.  in Leadam, Sel. Cases Crt. Requests (Selden Soc.), 5. William Frost oon of your Yomons of the Crowne.

1450.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 194/1. Watkyn Bedell, Yoman of oure *Ewre.

1455.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 20. John Canne, Yomen for the *halle.

1802.  J. T. Smith, Bk. for Rainy Day (1861), 169. A most diabolical-looking, little wretch, denominated ‘the Yeoman of the Halter,’ Jack Ketch’s head man.

1455.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 23. 1 Yoman of *Horse.

1530.  Palsgr., 291/1. Yeman of the horse, palfrenier.

1586.  T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. 320. The yomen of his horses.

1585.  Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 510/2. Promus,… a butler: a yeoman of the *larder.

1455.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 20. William Pratte, Yoman for the King’s *mouth.

1531.  Elyot, Gov., III. v. Yoman for the mouthe with the kynge.

a. 1700.  B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Yeoman of the Mouth, an Officer belonging to his Majestie’s Pantry.

1345–8.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 4. Yeomen of the *offices.

1552–3.  in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 111. Iohn howlte yeman of the *Revelles.

1455.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 17. John Slytherst, Yoman of the *Robes.

1552.  Huloet, Yoman or master of the robes, vestiarius.

1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Acatery, A Yeoman of the *Salt-Stores.

1650.  in Archaeologia, V. 435. The Saucery House, conteyning foure little roomes used by the yeomen of the *sauces.

1455.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 21. Roger Sutton, Yoman for the *sething place. Ibid., 23. 11 Yomen and Gromes of the *Stable.

1473.  Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 55. The Hensmen and ȝomen of the stablis for the King and the Quene.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 325. The king callit on ane ȝemen of the stabill and desyrit ane of his abullȝementis.

1526, 1538, 1647, 1692.  Yeoman of the *stirrup [see STIRRUP sb. 1 d].

1455.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 18. Yoman of the *Stoole.

1552–3.  in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 111. Yeman of the *Tentes.

1679–88.  Moneys Secr. Serv. Chas. II. & Jas. II. (Camden), 135. To Thomas Howard, yeoman of the tents and toyles, for his charge in removing the toyles and waggons.

1523–34.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 151. The yomen of the *wardropes of noble men.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., II. v. 45. The Lady of the Strachy, married the yeoman of the wardrob.

  b.  Yeoman of the Guard: a member of the body-guard of the sovereign of England (first appointed at the accession of Henry VII., and originally archers). Also Extraordinary Yeoman: see BEEFEATER 2.

1485.  in Hennell, Hist. Yeom. Gd. (1904), 23. Oure humble and feithful subgiet William Browne yoman of oure garde.

1509–10.  Act 1 Hen. VIII., c. 14. A Yoman of the Crowne or of the Kynges garde.

1519–20.  Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1904), 307. Ress^l for the Buryall of a yoman of the Gard þat dyed at þe Swan … ij s.

1552.  in Hennell, Hist. Yeom. Gd. (1904), 292. The Garde, 1552…. Ordinarie Yeomen in number cc…. Extraordinarie Yeomen in number cc & vii. Ibid. (1573), 293. Raulf Colborne an extraordinarye yeoman.

1613.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Watermen’s Suit, Wks. 1630, I. 175. Gentlemen of the priuy Chamber, or Yeomen of the Gard at least.

1647.  Haward, Crown Rev., 19. Captaine of the Guard … Ordinary Yeomen of the Guard, 200 … 50 Extraordinary.

1675.  in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 305. A L^d Chamberlain was never before turned out for striking a yeoman of the guard.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 109, ¶ 2. The vast jetting Coat and small Bonnet, which was the Habit in Harry the Seventh’s Time, is kept on in the Yeomen of the Guard.

1745.  Mrs. E. Montagu, Corr. (1906), I. 202. I can eat more buttered roll in a morning than a great girl at a boarding school, and more beef at dinner than a yeoman of the Guards.

1904.  Hensell, Hist. Yeom. Gd., 62. In the Yeomen of the Guard the yeomen are all non-commissioned officers, sergeants or sergeant-majors.

  c.  In the British and U.S. navies, an inferior officer who has charge of the stores in a particular department: with of or possessive, as yeoman of the powder-room, of the sheets (now abolished), y. of the signals, of the store-room, boatswain’s y., engineer’s y., paymaster’s y., ship’s y.

[c. 1400.  Beryn, 2997. Why goon the ȝemen to bote, Ankirs to hale?]

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. xii. 46. A Gunner … must be careful in making Choice of a sober honest Man, for the Yeoman of the Powder.

1698.  in MSS. Ho. Lords (N.S.), III. (1905), 346. The gunner and the yeoman ordered him to assist them.

1702.  in Lond. Gaz., No. 3815/2. Yeomen of the Sheets,… Yeomen of the Powder Room.

1816.  in Ord. Council Naval Service (1866), I. 300. We further submit to your Royal Highness to be pleased to sanction the abolition of the following obsolete or unnecessary ratings:—Yeoman of the Powder Room. — of the Sheets. Ibid. (1833), 511. Yeoman of the Store Rooms.

1850.  H. Melville, White Jacket, I. xxx. 194. The ship’s yeoman’s store-room.

1891.  C. Roberts, Adrift Amer., 234. The boatswain’s yeoman.

1899.  F. T. Bullen, Way Navy, 28. The chief petty officer, who is entitled chief yeoman of the signals.

  3.  Used appositively in the titles of various attendants and officials, as yeoman bedel, † brever, cook, farrier († ferrer), † fewterer, † furner, † garneter, gunner, † herbergeour (HARBINGER), porter, pricker (PRICKER 3), purveyor, usher, waiter, etc.: see also these words.

1641.  *Yeoman-bedels [see BEADLE 3 a].

1853.  ‘C. Bede,’ Verdant Green, I. vii. The Vice-Chancellor, with his Esquire and Yeoman-bedels.

1553.  in Archaeologia, XII. 359. The celler, Servauntes … John Thorowgood and Jeffrey Perrens, *yeomen brevers.

1450.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 195/1. To Thomas Cateby, *Yoman Cooke for oure mouth.

1454.  Acts Privy Council (1837), VI. 213. Robert Pilchard *yoman ferrour.

1455.  [see FERRER 3].

1647.  [see FARRIER sb. 3].

1599.  *Yeoman pheuterer [see FEWTERER].

1629.  Massinger, Picture, V. i. If you will bee An honest yeoman pheuterer, feed vs first, And walke vs after.

1650.  B. Discolliminium, 52. The rest of the Subjects [shall be] Yeomen-futerers and Gold-finders.

1553.  in Archaeologia, XII. 357. The Countinge howse. Servants … Rauffe Englishe, *yeoman furnator … Robert Style, yeoman garnator.

1455.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 19. Willian Peye, *Yoman Fourner.

1454.  Acts Privy Council (1837), VI. 213. Thomas Wente, *yoman garnetter.

1553.  in Archaeologia, XII. 357. Robarte Style, yeoman garnator.

1647.  Haward, Crown Rev., 33. Three Yeomen granators: Fee a peice per diem 9 d.

1450.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 198/1. The office of *Yoman Gonner of oure Citee and Castell of Westchestre. Ibid., 195/1. Oure servaunt John Ripon, one of oure *Yomen Herbergeours.

1642.  Docq. Lett. Pat. at Oxf. (1837), 341. His Ma^te gent^l & yeomen Harbingers.

1455.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 21. 1 *Yoman Herde. Ibid., 19. John Swyllyngton, *Yoman Messenger. Ibid. William Brynklowe, *Yoman Paymenbaker.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VI. ix. 196. He fond a *yoman porter kepyng ther many keyes.

1560.  in J. Scott, Berwick-upon-Tweed (1888), 449. The yeoman porters at any of the gates of this towne.

1708.  J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., II. III. (ed. 22), 628. Yeoman Porter for Oil and Candle for the Gate.

1766.  Entick, London, IV. 347. The yeoman porter goes to the governor’s house for the keys.

1455, 1601.  *Yeoman powder-beater [see POWDER sb.¹ 5 b].

1586, 1760, 1891.  *Yeoman pricker [see PRICKER 3].

c. 1767.  G. White, Selborne, To Pennant, vi. I saw myself one of the yeomen-prickers single out a stag from the herd.

1820.  Scott, Monast., xvii. Were you to put in for it, I would warrant you were made one of the Abbot’s yeomen-prickers.

1454.  Acts Privy Council (1837), VI. 213. Richard Walgrave and John Glover *yomen purveours.

1647.  Haward, Crown Rev., 33. Foure Yeomen Purveiours: Fee a peice per diem 9 d.

1455.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 18. Stephen Coote, *Yoman Skynner. Ibid. John Marchall, *Yoman Surgeon.

a. 1400–50.  Bk. Curtasye, 519, in Babees Bk., 316. Ȝomon vssher be-fore þe dore, In vttur chambur lies on þe flore.

1614.  Nottingham Rec., IV. 319. To the Yeoman Vsher’s grooms and pages … xl s.

1649.  Milton, Eikon., xxiv. 192. The Yeomen Ushers of Devotion.

1708.  J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., II. III. (ed. 22), 555. Mr. Ric. Pearson, Yeoman Usher.

1523–34.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 152. There was … as many good housholdes kept, and as many *yomenne wayters therin as be nowe.

1526.  Househ. Ord. (1790), 152. The yeoman ushers and yeoman wayters for that day.

1573.  in Hennell, Hist. Yeom. Gd. (1904), 293. The *yeomen warders of our Tower of London.

  II.  4. A man holding a small landed estate; a freeholder under the rank of a gentleman; hence vaguely, a commoner or countryman of respectable standing, esp. one who cultivates his own land.

  α.  1411.  Rolls of Parlt., III. 650/2. All the Knyghtes and Esquiers and Yomen that had ledynge of men.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xi. 1825. Ȝhomen and gentil men alsua.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., III. xiv. 371. Whether he be knyȝt, squyer, gentilman, ȝoman, or louȝer.

c. 1460.  Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xvii. (1885), 151. A c.s. off ffee or rente, wich is a feyre lyuynge ffor a yoman.

1473.  Warkw., Chron. (Camden), 1. And othere of gentylmen and yomenne he made knyghtes and squyres, as thei hade desserved.

1549.  Latimer, 1st Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 40. My father was a Yoman, and had no landes of his owne, onlye he had a farme of iii. or iiii. pound by yere at the yttermost…. He had walke for a hundred shepe, and my mother mylked xxx. kyne.

1642.  in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1692), III. I. 680. Though many of the Chief Gentry of those Counties were for paying Obedience to his Majestie’s Commission of Array, yet the Free-holders and Yoemen being generally of the other side,… they were crush’d.

1648.  Hunting of Fox, 39. The sufferings of the Yoemen, Farmers, and other poor Countrymen.

  β.  1455.  Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), 288. Arlaton Hussher, merchant … and Harry White, yeman.

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, d iv. Ther is a Goshawke, and that hauke is for a yeman.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xxxix. 25. Honest ȝemen in every toun War wont to weir baith reid and broun.

1542–3.  Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 26 § 26 [70]. Twoo substanciall Gentlemen or Yeomen to be chief Constables of the Hundred wherin they inhabyte.

1567.  Harman, Caveat (1869), 22. The honorable wyl abhore them, The worshipfull wyll reiecte them, The yemen wyll sharpely tawnte them, The Husband men vtterly defye them, The laboryng men bluntly chyde them.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 283. Money wther gentillmen and ȝemenis.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 36. Ȝiemen and housbandmen thair sal ȝe sie gang weil arrayed.

1706.  Swift, Baucis & Phil., 19. A good old honest ye’man, Call’d in the neighbourhood Philemon.

  γ.  1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 171. Þerfore hit is þat a ȝeman [v.r. ȝymman; L. vernaculus] arraieþ hym as a squyer, a squyer as a knyȝt, a kniȝt as a duke and a duke as a kyng.

  δ.  a. 1577.  Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng., I. xxiii. (1584), 30. I call him a yeoman whom our Lawes doe call Legalem hominem,… which is a freeman borne English, and may dispend of his owne free lande in yerely reuenue to the summe of xl. s. sterling. Ibid., 32. Yeoman: which worde now signifieth among vs, a man well at ease and hauing honestlie to liue, and yet not a gentleman.

1591.  Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. iv. 86. His Grandfather was Lyonel Duke of Clarence,… Spring Crestlesse Yeomen from so deepe a Root?

1640–1.  Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 4. To be peyit be the tennants and yeomanes.

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., VI. § 4. The other party … persuading the substantial yeomen and freeholders that at least two parts of their estates would … be taken from them.

1687.  in Third Coll. Poems (1689), 21. The Admiral may now turn common Seaman, Or Fer—s like; from Court to Country Yeoman.

1716.  Gay, Trivia, III. 285. I knew a yeoman, who … To the great city drove, from Devon’s plain His num’rous lowing herd.

1812.  Shelley, Devil’s Walk, xix. The wealthy yeonan, as he wanders His fertile fields among, And on his thriving cattle ponders.

1815.  Scott, Guy M., Note B. An old and sturdy yeoman belonging to the Scottish side,… well known by his soubriquet of Fighting Charlie of Liddesdale.

1861.  Geo. Eliot, Silas M., I. ii. The fall of prices had not yet come to carry the race of small squires and yeomen down that road to ruin.

  transf. and fig.  a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, II. iv. (1912), 167. The first might seeme the Lords, the second the Gentlemen, and the last the Yeomen of dogges.

1863.  Longf., Wayside Inn, K. Olaf, XX. iii. Turning to a Lapland yeoman.

1865.  Spectator, 14 Jan., 32. There never was a struggle since yeoman Cain killed nomad Abel in which either party could beforehand be sure of success.

1879.  Froude, Cæsar, ii. 14. The grandsons of the yeomen who had held at bay Pyrrhus and Hannibal sold their farms and went away.

  † b.  Used as a term of disparagement. rare^–1.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., lxix. 318. Thenne þe Emperour turnyd to his brothir, and saide, ‘Þou ȝoman, what soory wrecchidnesse is in þe?’

  † c.  Applied to the pawns at chess. Obs. rare.

1523–34.  Fitzherb., Husb., Prol. That boke [sc. of chess] is deuyded in vi. degrees,… the kynge, the quene, the byshops, the knightes, the iudges, and the yomenne.

  5.  A man of the standing or rank described in 4 serving as a (foot) soldier. Now Hist. or arch. exc. as in b.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XVI. 101. Schir Richard of Clare … Send wicht ȝhomen that veill couth schut To bikkir the reirward apon fut.

a. 1400.  Sqr. lowe Degre, 232. Thus in your warres shall you ryde, With syxe good yemen by your syde.

a. 1577.  Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng., I. xxiii. (1589), 41. The gentlemen of Fraunce and the yeomen of England are renowned, because in battle of horsemen Fraunce was many times too good for vs, as we againe alway for them on foote. And Gentlemen for the most part be men at armes and horsemen, and yeomen commonly on foote.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., III. i. 25. And you good Yeomen, Whose Lyms were made in England; shew vs here The mettell of your Pasture.

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., xi. 29. Our Armies in those times … Of our tall Yeomen were, and foot-men for the most.

1814.  Scott, Ld. of Isles, V. xxix. Two hundred yeomen on that morn The castle left, and none return.

  b.  spec. A member of the (Imperial) Yeomanry: see YEOMANRY 3.

1798.  in Ld. Auckland’s Corr. (1862), III. 429. Two of the yeomen of Lord Ely’s corps … were hanged…, being condemned by a Courtmartial.

1812.  Ann. Reg., Chron., 93. It being reported that a poor old woman had been killed by the carelessness of the yeomen, the crowd began to follow the cavalry.

1828.  Scott, Jrnl., 18 March (1891), 558. I am one of the oldest, if not the very oldest Yeoman in Scotland, and have seen the rise, progress, and now the fall of this very constitutional part of the national force.

1912.  L. Tracy, Mirabel’s Isl., iv. (1915), 65. ‘Were you in a Highland regiment?’ ‘No. I was a mere worm, an Imperial Yeoman.’

  III.  6. attrib. and Comb. a. attrib., as yeoman class, rank, throng; appositive (see also 3), as yeoman farmer, gentleman, man, proprietor, servant, soldier, † sprat, volunteer; † yeoman ale, † yeoman bread (also yeoman’s bread), names for second qualities of ale or bread; yeoman service (see 1 c).

1532.  Cartular. Abb. de Rievalle (Surtees), 355. Of *yoman aile of the great fatt, v gallons.

1430.  Charters Selby Abbey, York (B. M. Add. Ch. 45849), 8 panes secundarios vocatos *yhomanbreed.

1552.  Huloet, Bread called Yomens bread, domesticus panis.

1620.  Venner, Via Recta, i. 18. Secundarium is that part of the meale, whereof yeoman-bread is made, which some call second bread.

1876.  Miss Braddon, J. Haggard’s Dau., i. The new-comer’s costume was that of the *yeoman class.

1878.  Stubbs, Const. Hist., § 803. After the economical changes which marked the early years of the fifteenth century, the yeoman class was strengthened by the addition of the body of tenant farmers.

1821.  Cobbett, Rur. Rides (1885), I. 17. Those only who rent … are, properly speaking, farmers. Those who till their own land are yeomen; and, when I was a boy, it was the common practice to call the former farmers and the latter *yeomen-farmers.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XIII. 225, heading. How the *ȝhemen men and the pouer men maid of schetis the maner of baneris.

1481.  Acts Parl. Scot., Jas. III. (1814), II. 139/2. For the slaying … of ony tratour … cummyn of gentill blude, thare salbe payit xx li And for a ȝeman man x li.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 98. Witht sindrie wther gentillmen and money ȝeamen men of commons.

1593.  Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1816), IV. 18/2. The panis and vnlawes of lawborrous … salbe for euery erll or lord Tua thowsand pund … and for euerie ȝeman man Ane hundreth markis.

1873.  Hamerton, Intell. Life, III. iii. 83. A small *yeoman proprietor cultivates his own land.

1862.  Thornbury, Turner, I. 5. A family like Turner’s, that produced a small tradesman, a bank-clerk, and a solicitor, must have at least been of as good *yeoman rank as Shakspeare’s.

1498.  in Somerset Med. Wills (1901), 375. To every of my servants y callid *yemen servants, 6s. 8d.

1880.  Hardy, Trumpet-Major, v. No impossible contingency with the *yeoman-soldier.

1622.  Massinger & Dekker, Virg. Mart., II. i. She tooke vs, tis true, from the gallowes, yet I hope she will not barre *yeomen sprats to haue their swinge.

1808.  Scott, Marm., III. xxvi. And on the tale the *yeoman-throng Had made a comment sage and long.

1808.  in C. W. Thompson, Rec. Dorset Yeomanry (1894), 87. Report of the Dorset *Yeomen Volunteers.

  b.  Comb., as yeoman-like adj., yeoman-wise adv.

1674.  N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 90. They could neither speak with nor make one another, (if I may word it so much Yeoman-wise).

1682.  H. More, in Glanvill’s Sadducismus, Contin. Coll., 38. A proper Yeoman-like Man.

1828.  trans. Manzoni’s Betrothed Lovers, Pref. p. viii. His bold, and honest, and yeoman-like bearing.

  Hence Yeomaness = YEOWOMAN; Yeomanhood, the position or station of a yeoman.

1623.  Wodroephe, Marrowe Fr. Tongue, 211/2. *Yeamanesse, good wife, haue you no fresh egges? Ibid., 283/2. Valiant like the yeamenesses [orig. Paysantes] of Lombardie.

1889.  Saintsbury, Ess. Engl. Lit. (1890), 6. They had apparently lost even the dignity of yeomanhood.