Hypertext Webster Gateway: "beadsman"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Beadsman \Beads"man\, Bedesman \Bedes"man\, n.; pl. {-men}.
A poor man, supported in a beadhouse, and required to pray
for the soul of its founder; an almsman.
Whereby ye shall bind me to be your poor beadsman for
ever unto Almighty God. --Fuller.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
beadsman
n : a person who is paid to pray for the soul of another [syn: {bedesman}]
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