Yeoman

/ˈjəʊmən/
noun

A man who owned and cultivated a small farm; especially : one belonging to a class of English freeholders below the gentry.

In medieval England, a yeoman was a landowner.
Visual representation of "yeoman" - A man who owned and cultivated a small farm; especially : one belonging to a class of English freeholders below the gentry

Often appears as...

  • yeoman farmer
  • yeoman landowner

Usage tips

Historical

noun

A reliable, diligent, or strong person especially doing important but not noticeable work.

She did a yeoman's job in seeing the project through.
Visual representation of "yeoman" - A reliable, diligent, or strong person especially doing important but not noticeable work

Often appears as...

  • yeoman's work
  • yeoman service

Usage tips

Formal

noun

A petty officer in the navy (in the UK, in charge of naval provisions, and in the US, doing clerical work).

The yeoman handled all the official paperwork.
Visual representation of "yeoman" - A petty officer in the navy (in the UK, in charge of naval provisions, and in the US, doing clerical work)

Often appears as...

  • yeoman officer
  • yeoman navy

Usage tips

Military

noun

A member of the Yeomen of the Guard or the Yeomen Warders of Great Britain.

The Yeoman Warder gives guided tours of the Tower of London.
Visual representation of "yeoman" - A member of the Yeomen of the Guard or the Yeomen Warders of Great Britain

Often appears as...

  • yeoman guard
  • yeoman warder

Usage tips

Formal

Historical

noun

A man who owned and cultivated a small farm; especially : one belonging to a class of English freeholders below the gentry.

In medieval England, a yeoman was a landowner.
Visual representation of "yeoman" - A man who owned and cultivated a small farm; especially : one belonging to a class of English freeholders below the gentry

Often appears as...

  • yeoman farmer
  • yeoman landowner

Usage tips

Historical

noun

A reliable, diligent, or strong person especially doing important but not noticeable work.

She did a yeoman's job in seeing the project through.
Visual representation of "yeoman" - A reliable, diligent, or strong person especially doing important but not noticeable work

Often appears as...

  • yeoman's work
  • yeoman service

Usage tips

Formal

noun

A petty officer in the navy (in the UK, in charge of naval provisions, and in the US, doing clerical work).

The yeoman handled all the official paperwork.
Visual representation of "yeoman" - A petty officer in the navy (in the UK, in charge of naval provisions, and in the US, doing clerical work)

Often appears as...

  • yeoman officer
  • yeoman navy

Usage tips

Military

noun

A member of the Yeomen of the Guard or the Yeomen Warders of Great Britain.

The Yeoman Warder gives guided tours of the Tower of London.
Visual representation of "yeoman" - A member of the Yeomen of the Guard or the Yeomen Warders of Great Britain

Often appears as...

  • yeoman guard
  • yeoman warder

Usage tips

Formal

Historical

Definition 1 of 4
Visual representation of "yeoman"
LampPro Tip 1/2

Social Status

In historical context, 'yeoman' refers to a social status between peasants and the gentry.

Illustration for Social Status
As a yeoman, he wasn't wealthy, but he owned his land.
LampPro Tip 2/2

Freehold Tenure

Yeomen held their land as 'freeholders', meaning they owned it outright, without feudal duties.

Illustration for Freehold Tenure
The yeoman lived comfortably due to his freehold land.
LampPro Tip 1/2

Social Status

In historical context, 'yeoman' refers to a social status between peasants and the gentry.

Illustration for Social Status
As a yeoman, he wasn't wealthy, but he owned his land.
LampPro Tip 2/2

Freehold Tenure

Yeomen held their land as 'freeholders', meaning they owned it outright, without feudal duties.

Illustration for Freehold Tenure
The yeoman lived comfortably due to his freehold land.
LampPro Tip 1/2

Social Status

In historical context, 'yeoman' refers to a social status between peasants and the gentry.

Illustration for Social Status
As a yeoman, he wasn't wealthy, but he owned his land.
LampPro Tip 2/2

Freehold Tenure

Yeomen held their land as 'freeholders', meaning they owned it outright, without feudal duties.

Illustration for Freehold Tenure
The yeoman lived comfortably due to his freehold land.
Visual representation of the word "Yeoman"

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Video examples

History vs. Henry VIII -...

and his attempt to pay for it by debasing the coinage led to constant inflation. The lords and landowners responded by removing access to common pastures and turning the peasant population into beggars. Beggars who would soon become yeomen farmers. The enclosures made farming more efficient, and created a labor surplus

Video examples

History vs. Henry VIII -...

and his attempt to pay for it by debasing the coinage led to constant inflation. The lords and landowners responded by removing access to common pastures and turning the peasant population into beggars. Beggars who would soon become yeomen farmers. The enclosures made farming more efficient, and created a labor surplus

Example 1 of 1

Quote examples

Jack Cade

English Activist

We will that all men know we blame not all the lords, nor all those that are about the king's person, nor all gentlemen nor yeomen, nor all men of law, nor all bishops, nor all priests, but all such as may be found guilty by just and true inquiry and by the law.
Portrait of Jack Cade

Quote examples

Elvis Mitchell

American Critic

It's more dangerous to be a friend or relative of Jackie Chan in the star's movies than it is to play the third yeoman on a 'Star Trek' episode.
Portrait of Elvis Mitchell

Quote examples

Jack Adams

Canadian Athlete

A chief petty officer taught me shorthand, which got me promoted to yeoman first class.
Portrait of Jack Adams

Quote examples

Jack Cade

English Activist

We will that all men know we blame not all the lords, nor all those that are about the king's person, nor all gentlemen nor yeomen, nor all men of law, nor all bishops, nor all priests, but all such as may be found guilty by just and true inquiry and by the law.
Portrait of Jack Cade

Quote examples

Elvis Mitchell

American Critic

It's more dangerous to be a friend or relative of Jackie Chan in the star's movies than it is to play the third yeoman on a 'Star Trek' episode.
Portrait of Elvis Mitchell

Quote examples

Jack Adams

Canadian Athlete

A chief petty officer taught me shorthand, which got me promoted to yeoman first class.
Portrait of Jack Adams
Example 1 of 3
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