I. ˈyōmən noun
( plural yeomen )
Etymology: Middle English yoman, yeman, perhaps contraction of yong man, yeng man young man, attendant, from yong, yeng young + man
1.
a. : an attendant or officer in a royal or noble household performing menial services
yeoman of the wardrobe
especially : one ranking between a sergeant and a groom or between a squire and a page
b. : a person attending or assisting another (as an official) : retainer
c. : yeoman of the guard
d. : a seaman, petty officer, or warrant officer (as in the Royal Navy) who assists (as in having charge of stores or signaling procedure) the officer of a particular department
e. : a petty officer (as in the United States Navy) who performs clerical duties and is responsible for keeping records and reports and providing information (as on insurance, transportation, or promotions) relating to his department
f. : a clerk who keeps records on board a ship — called also writer
2.
a. : a small farmer who cultivates his own land ; specifically : one belonging to a class of English freeholders ranking below the gentry and formerly qualified by owning property worth 40 shillings a year to enjoy certain legal privileges (as jury duty)
b. : any person of the social rank of yeoman or of similar rank : a member of the first or most respected class of common people : one of the highest class not entitled to heraldic arms
c. : a member of the British military yeomanry
3. : one that performs great and laborious services
the biscuit pans … were the yeomen of our kitchen — Alberta Constant
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English yoman, yeman, from yoman yeman, n.
1. : of, relating to, or being a yeoman
of yeoman rank
a yeoman farmer
2. : consisting of yeomen
the yeoman class
3. : characteristic of or befitting a yeoman
a man of big build, of yeoman appearance, countrified by nature and wish — Current Biography
4. : characterized by laborious effort and great usefulness
did yeoman service
performed yeoman work
gave yeoman help