beadhouse

American

[beed-hous] / ˈbidˌhaʊs /

Or bedehouse

noun

(formerly) an almshouse in which the residents were required to pray for the founder.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

beadhouses

plural

Etymology

Origin of beadhouse

Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at bead, house

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A poor man, supported in a beadhouse, and required to pray for the soul of its founder; an almsman.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023