Main Entry:

yeo·man

Pronunciation:

\ˈyō-mən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English yoman, yeman

Date:

14th century

1 a: an attendant or officer in a royal or noble household b: a person attending or assisting another : retainer c: yeoman of the guard d: a naval petty officer who performs clerical duties2 a: a person who owns and cultivates a small farm ; specifically : one belonging to a class of English freeholders below the gentry b: a person of the social rank of yeoman3: one that performs great and loyal service <did a yeoman's job in seeing the program through>