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 duties
2 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 yeoman
3 : one that performs great and loyal service <did a yeoman's job in seeing the program through>