BEADLE
Bea"dle, n. Etym: [OE. bedel, bidel, budel, OF. bedel, F. bedeau, fr.
OHG. butil, putil, G. büttel, fr. OHG. biotan, G. bieten, to bid,
confused with AS. bydel, the same word as OHG. butil. See. Bid, v.]
1. A messenger or crier of a court; a servitor; one who cites or bids persons to appear and answer; — called also an apparitor or summoner.
2. An officer in a university, who precedes public processions of officers and students. [Eng.]
Note: In this sense the archaic spellings bedel (Oxford) and bedell
(Cambridge) are preserved.
3. An inferior parish officer in England having a variety of duties, as the preservation of order in church service, the chastisement of petty offenders, etc.
BEADLERY
Bea"dle*ry, n.
Defn: Office or jurisdiction of a beadle.
BEADLESHIP
Bea"dle*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being, or the personality of, a beadle. A. Wood.
BEAD PROOF
Bead" proof`.