yeoman

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yeoman pl. yeomen attendant below the rank of ‘sergeant’ XIV; freeholder below the rank of a gentleman, (hence) man of good standing XV. ME. ʒoman, ʒuman, ʒeman, ʒiman, prob. reduced forms of ʒong-, ʒung-, ʒeng-, ʒingman, i.e. youngman, which was similarly used in ME.

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