yeoman

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yeo·man / ˈyōmən/ • n. (pl. -men) 1. hist. a man holding and cultivating a small landed estate; a freeholder. ∎  a person qualified for certain duties and rights, such as to serve on juries and vote for the knight of the shire. 2. hist. a servant in a royal or noble household. 3. a petty officer in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard performing clerical duties on board ship.DERIVATIVES: yeo·man·ly adj.

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