yeoman's service en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
An allusion to stouthearted, dutiful labor performed by a yeoman.
Meanings
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(idiomatic, of behavior by a person) Arduous work, performed in a vigorous, committed manner.
He hath done yeoman's service, and proved himself staunch and faithful.
1891, Charlotte Mary Yonge, chapter 7, in Unknown to History:Near-synonym: good job
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(idiomatic, of an object or characteristic) Reliable, useful, capable service.
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.
c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:[O]n many occasions his liberality did him genuine yeoman's service.
1827, [Walter Scott], chapter 1, in Chronicles of the Canongate; […], Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Co.] for Cadell and Co.; London: Simpkin and Marshall, →OCLC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| yeoman service | alternative | lexicographic |
Synonyms
yeoman's labor · good job · yeoman's work
Translations (10)
fi uurastus (arduous work performed in a committed manner) · pl mozół (arduous work performed in a committed manner) · pl krwawica (arduous work performed in a committed manner) · pl znój (arduous work performed in a committed manner) · fr travail de Romain (arduous work performed in a committed manner) · pl benedyktyńska praca (arduous work performed in a committed manner) · pl mrówcza praca (arduous work performed in a committed manner) · fi ahkera työ (arduous work performed in a committed manner) · fr travail de bénédictin (arduous work performed in a committed manner) · pl harówka (arduous work performed in a committed manner)