yeoman's service

American  

Or yeoman service

noun

1. good, useful, or workmanlike service.

   His trusty sword did him yeoman's service.

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Etymology

Origin of yeoman's service

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

Luther's famous reply to Erasmus On the Bondage of the Will is made to do yeoman's service in this respect.

From Luther Examined and Reexamined A Review of Catholic Criticism and a Plea for Revaluation by Dau, W. H. T. (William Herman Theodore)

In doing this, you did me yeoman's service, although you are even now not aware of this.

From The Heart of Denise and Other Tales by Levett-Yeats, S. (Sidney)

He had done his country more than yeoman's service.

From The English in the West Indies or, The Bow of Ulysses by Froude, James Anthony

There was something of the pallor of the sick-room left with him—a slight tenuity in his hands and brightness in his eye which did him yeoman’s service.

From The Claverings by Trollope, Anthony

Augustine was the ablest of the early Christian fathers and he did yeoman's service in laying broad and deep the foundations of the Christian church and in defending it against the heretics.

From Comfort Found in Good Old Books by Fitch, George Hamlin