YEOMAN

(1) In English law. A commoner ; a freeholder under the rauk of gentleman. Cowell A man who has free land of forty shillings by the year; who was anciently thereby qualified to serve on juries, vote for knights of the shire, and do any other act, Where the law requires one that is probus et legalis homo. This term is occasionally used In American law, but without any definite meaning, except in the United States navy, where it designates an appointive petty officer, who has charge of the stores and supplies in his department of the ship’s economy. (2) Yeomanry. The collected body of yeomen. (3) Yeomen of the guard. Properly called “yeomen of the guard of the royal household;” a body of men of the best rank under the gen-try, and of a larger statute than ordinary, every one being required to be six feet high. Enc. Lond.