Bedesman, or beadsman (Middle English bede, 'prayer', from the Old English biddan, 'to pray'; lit. 'a man of prayer'; and from the Anglo-Saxon bed), was generally a pensioner or almsman whose duty was to pray for his benefactor.
- ^ Camm, Bede (2004). Forgotten Shrines. Gracewing. p. 16. ISBN 0-85244-615-2. Retrieved 24 November 2010..