/beed"l/ , n.
1. a parish officer having various subordinate duties, as keeping order during services, waiting on the rector, etc.
2. sexton (def. 2).
[ bef. 1000; ME bedel, dial. (SE) var. of bidel, OE bydel apparitor, herald (c. G Büttel ), equiv. to bud- (weak s. of beodan to command) + -il n. suffix ]