Yeoman's Service Definition
Contents
English
Etymology
An allusion to stouthearted, dutiful labor performed by a yeoman.
Alternative forms
Noun
- (idiomatic, of behavior by a person) Arduous work, performed in a vigorous, committed manner.
- 1891, Charlotte Mary Yonge, Unknown to History, ch. 7:
- He hath done yeoman's service, and proved himself staunch and faithful.
- 1891, Charlotte Mary Yonge, Unknown to History, ch. 7:
- (idiomatic, of an object or characteristic) Reliable, useful, capable service.
- circa 1600, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, act 5, sc. 2:
- I once did hold it, as our statists do,
- A baseness to write fair and labour'd much
- How to forget that learning, but, sir, now
- It did me yeoman's service.
- 1827, Sir Walter Scott, The Chronicles of the Canongate, ch. 1:
- [O]n many occasions his liberality did him genuine yeoman's service.
- circa 1600, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, act 5, sc. 2:
|