Reverse. 
Silver Yen. (Size of original. ) 
yeni 
yeni (yen'i). «. 
[S. Amer.] A 
South Ameri- 
can tanager, 
Calliftc yeni. 
Tenisean.Yen- 
iseian (yen-i- 
se'an, -yan), a. 
Of or pertain- 
ing to the Yeni- 
sei, a large riv- 
er in Siberia. 
yenite (yen'it), 
II. lAlsojciiitc; 
< Jena, a town 
in Germany, + 
-!7«2.] In niiii- 
eral.. same as 
ilvaite. 
yeoman (yo'- 
man), h. ; pi. 
yeomen (-men). 
[Early mod. E. 
i/omaii ; < ME. 
yoman, yomoii, 
ghomaii,yeiiian, 
gemaii,slieman; 
not found In 
AS., but prob. 
existent as 
*(/dmaii, *geu- 
iiiaii, gieman (= 
OFries. (jdmaii, 
gdmon, a villager (ef. gdfolk, people of a vil- 
lage), = MD. gaymaniien, arbitrators, = Icel. 
gceiiiiadhr, a franklin — rare, and prob. < AS.); 
< AS. *gd, 'gcd, *ge, a district or village, as 
in comp. ie'l-ge. 'province of eels,' Ohtgii-gd, 
Noxga-gd {— OFries. gd, go (pi. gde), a district 
village, = MO. gouwc (in comp. goo-, goy-, go-), 
a village, field, D. gouw, goiiwe, a province, = 
MLG. go, LG. goe, golie, in comp. go-, a dis- 
trict, = OHG. gowi, gouiri, gewi, MHG. goit, giiu, 
G. gaii, a province, G. dial, gdu, the country, 
= Goth, gaioi, a district), + man, man. The 
word has been erroneously explained other- 
wise: (a) A contraction of a supposed ME. 
*yeme-man, 'a person in charge,' < yeme, care, 
+ man. (b) < AS. iuman, aforefather, ancient, 
< iu, of yore, + man. (c) < AS. iung man, geong 
man, young man. (d) < AS. guma, man. (e) 
< AS. gem^ne, common. These attempts are 
all wrong. Tliat which refers to AS. iung man, 
geong man, finds some color in the use of iung 
men as a quasi-technical name for a body- 
guard ; but while the sense might seem to suit, 
it is impossible to derive ME. ^o- or ?e- from 
AS. geong, iung. The proper modern spelling 
is yoman, the eo being appar. due to an attempt 
to represent in one spelling the two variants 
yeman and yoman; the eo has no etymological 
justification, as it has to some extent in people.'] 
It. A retainer; a guard. 
jomen than dede the gates schette, 
& u'i3ttil! llian went the walles forto fende. 
William of Palerne (E. E. T. S.), 1. 3649. 
A yeman hadde he and servaunts nanio. 
Chaucer, Gen. Prol. to C. T., 1. 101. 
2t. A gentleman attendant in a royal or noble 
household, ranking between a sergeant and 
a groom: as, yeoman for the month, a butler; 
yeoman of the crown; yeoman usher: applied 
also to attendants of lower grade: as, yeoman 
ienteror (see f cute nr) ; yeoman of the chamber ; 
yeoman of the wardrobe. See also phrase yeo- 
man of the guard, below. 
Yeomen of Chamhre, HIT, to make heddes, to here or hold 
torches, tu sett'i boiirdes, . . . and suche other servyce aa 
the . . . usshers of cliarnbre command or assigne. 
Quoted in ISaliees Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 313, note. 
Xow of marai^lialle of halle wylle I spelle, . . . 
,TO//*on vsshere, and grorae also, 
Vndur hym ar thes two. 
Babees Boole (E. E. T. S.), p. 311. 
Timochares, whose sonne was yoman for the monthe 
with the kyni,'e, promysed to Fabricius, thaune beiiige con- 
Hull, to ale kynge Pyrrn.s. 
Sir T. Elyot, Tlie Governour, iii. 5. 
Tlie lady of the Straehy married tlie yeoman of the ward- 
robe. Shale., T. N., ii. 6. 45. 
Four persons, who had been yomen of the crown to Ed- 
ward IV., were taken inSouthwark and h:tirf<edatTylun-n. 
J. Gairdiier, llichard III., iv. 
Hence — 3t. One holding a subordinate posi- 
tion, as an attendant or assistant, journeyman, 
etc. 
ila.ster FanK, have you entered the action? . . . Where 's 
your yeoman! Is't a lusty yeoman? will a' stand to't? 
Shak., 2 lien. IV., ii. 1. 4. 
7018 
Enter Master Tenterhook, Sergeant Ambush, and Yeo- 
man Clutch. 
Ten. Come, Sersreant Ambush, come. Yeoman Clutch, 
yon '8 the tavern ; the gentlemen will come out presently. 
Dekker and Webnter, Westward Ho, iii. 2. 
The reason for calling the journeymen of the craft yeo- 
men and bachelors, was probably that they were at that 
time in England, aa was the case in Germany, not allowed 
to marry before they were masters. 
English Gilds (E. E. T. S.), p. cxlvi., note. 
4. In old Eng. law, one having free land of 
forty shillings by the year (previously five no- 
bles), who was thereby qualified to serve on 
juries, vote for knights of the shire, and do any 
other act for which the law required one who 
was "probus et legalis homo" (Blackstone, 
Com., I. xii.); hence, in recent English use, 
one owning (and usually himself cultivating) 
a small landed property; a freeholder. 
I press rae none but good householders, yeomen's sons. 
Shak., 1 Hen. IV., iv. 2. 16. 
Now do I smell th' astrologer's trick : he'll steep me 
In soldiers blood, or boil me in a caldron 
Of barbarous law French ; or anoint me over 
With supple oil of great inen's services ; 
For these three means raise yeornen to the gentry. 
Tomkis (?), Albuniazar, ii. 2. 
The yeomen or Common People, . . . who have some 
Lands of their own to live upon ; For a Carn of Land, or 
a Plough Land, was in ancient Time of the yearly Value 
of five Nobles, and this was the Living of a Stokeman or 
Yeomun; And in our Law they are called Legales Homi- 
nes, a Word familiar in Writs and Inquests. 
Guillim, Display of Heraldry (ed. 1724), II. 274. 
After the economical changes which marked the early 
years of the tlfteeiith centnry, the yeoman class was 
strengtliened by tlie addition of the body of tenant farm- 
ers, whose interests were very much the same as those 
of the smaller freeholders, and who shared with them the 
common name of yeoman. Stubbs, Const. Hist., § 480. 
5. In the United States navy, an appointed 
petty officer who has charge of the stores in 
his department. The ship's yeoman has ch.nrge of the 
boatswains', carpenters', sailmalcers' stores, etc., and the 
engineer's yeoman has charge of all stores in the engi- 
neer's department, while the paymaster's yeoman takes 
care of provisions, clothing, and small stores, and issues 
them as directed. 
6. A member of the yeomanry cavalry. See 
yeomanry, 4. Aytotin Yeoman bedel. See hedel. 
— Yeoman of the guard, in England, a member of the 
body-guard of the sovereign. See be^-eater, 2. 
There came a country gentleman (a sufflcieut yeoman) 
up to towne, who had severall sonnes, but one an extra- 
ordinary proper handsome fellowe, whom he did hope to 
have preferred to be a yeoman o.f the guard. 
Autyrey, Lives (Walter EaleghX 
Yeoman's service, powerful or efficient aid, support, or 
help: in allusion to tlie strength and bravery of the yeo- 
men in the English armies of early times. 
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. Shak., Hamlet, v. 2. 36. 
yeomanly (yo'man-li), a. [< yeoman + -?//!.] 
Of yeoman's rank; hence, plain; homely; sim- 
ple; humble. 
It would make him melancholy to see his yeomanly fa- 
ther cut his neighbours' throats to make his son a gentle- 
man. B. Jontfon, Every Man out of his Humour, iv. 1. 
Tlie simplicity and plainnesse of Christianity, which to 
the gorgeous solemnitiea of Paganisme and the sense of 
the Worlds Children seem'd but a homely and Yeomanly 
Ileligion. Milton, Reformation in Eng., i. 
yeomanly (yo'man-li), adv. [< yeoman + -ly^.] 
Bravely ; as with the strength of a yeoman. 
"Saint George strike for us!" exclaimed the Knight; 
*' do the false yeomen give way?" "No !" exclaimed Re- 
becca, " they bear themselves right yeomanly." 
Scott, Ivaiihoe, xxix. 
yeomanry (yo'man-ri), n. [Early mod. E. also 
ycomandrie; <ME. yemanry, geinanry; <. yeoman 
+ -ry (see -ery).'] 1. The collective estate or 
body of yeomen ; yeomen collectively. 
Gentyllys and yemanry of goodly lyff lad. 
Coventry Myderies, p. 1. 
God haffe mersey on Robyn Hodys soUe, 
And saffe all god yemnnren ! 
Robin Hood and the Potter (Child's Ballads, 'V. 32). 
Next after the gentry, in respect of that political weight 
which depends on the ownership of land, was ranked the 
great body of freeholders, the yeomanry of the middle 
ages. Stubbs, Const. Hist., § 480. 
2+. Service ; retainers ; those doing a vassal's 
service. 
Then Robin Hood took those brethren good 
To be of his yeomandrie. 
Robin Hood and the Beggar (Child's Ballads, V. 257). 
3t. That which befits a yeoman. 
"Be mey trowet, thow seys soyt," seyde Roben, 
" Thow sevs god vemenrey." 
Robin Hood and the Potter (Cllild's Ballads, V. 22). 
4. A volunteer cavalry force originally em- 
bodied in Great Britain during the wars of the 
French revolution, and consisting to a great 
yerk 
extent of gentlemen or wealthy farmers. They 
undergo six days of training, and must att< nd a certain 
number of drills yearly, for wliicii they receive a money 
allowance. They must furuisli their own horses, but have 
a small allowance for clothing — the governmeiil also sup- 
plying arms and ammunition. Unlike the ordinary volun- 
teer lorce, the yeomanry cavalry may be called out to aid 
the civil power, in addition to being liable for service on 
invasion of the country by a foreign enemy. — Yeomanry 
Act, an Eiiglisli statute of 1804 (44 Geo. III., c. 54) consoli- 
dating and amending the laws relating to the corps of yeo- 
manry and volunteers and regulating them. 
yep (yep), a. [Also yap; Sc. yap, yarp (E. dial. 
yepper) ; < ME. yepe, geiye, gep, siep, s«p, shrewd, 
prudent, fresh, brisk, eager, < AS. geap (geapp-), 
gedp, crafty, cunning, shrewd, subtle, bent, 
curved, open, spread out.] Fresh ; brisk ; live- 
ly; vigorous. [Obsolete or provincial.] 
For hit is jol & nwe jer lYule and New Year], & here ar 
j«/j mony. 
Sir Oawayne and the Green Knight (E. E. T. S.), 1. 284. 
Whil thow ai*t gong and ^ep. 
Piers Plowman (C), xi. 287. 
yeplyt, adv. [= Sc. yaply; < ME. geply, gap- 
liclie, gepliche, < AS. geaplicc. shrewdly, < geap, 
(7«(j), shrewd.] Promptly; quickly; at once. 
Thou knowez the couenauntez kest vus by-twene. 
At tills tyme twelmonyth ihon toke that the failed, 
& I schulde at tills nwe gere .jeply the quyte. 
Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight (E. E. T. 8.), 1. 2244. 
We muste yappely wen'le in at this yate. 
For he that comes to conrte to curtesye muste vse hym. 
York Plays, p. 279. 
yer (ye or yu), adv. A dialectal variant of here. 
[Southern U. S.] 
Bimeby, fus' news you know, yer come Brer Rabbit. 
J. C. Harris, Uncle Remus, xviii. 
-yer. [(«) A var. of -teri, < ME. -ier, -yer, -iere 
(see -tefl). (6) Formerly also -ier; < ME. -yer, 
-yere, sere, being the suffix -er with g, orig. g, 
belonging to the root (see bowycr, etc.).] A 
termination of nouns of agent, as in bowyer, 
lawyer, sawyer, and formerly in lovyer, etc. See 
-ierl and bowyer, etc. 
yerba (yer'ba), n. [Sp., lit. herb, < L. herba, 
herb: see herb.'] The Paraguay tea, or mate. 
See mate*. Abbreviated from yerba de mate or 
yerba-mate — Yerba buena. See Mieromeria.— Yer- 
ba, de colubra. See Herpestii.—Yeiba. del oso, a 
shrub, Rhamnus Califomicns. See Rhamnus. — Yerba 
de mate. See def. above.— Yerba mansa, a CMlifoj-nian 
herb, Anemopsis Califomica, of the Pipeiacex. The flow- 
ers are small and numerous on a conical receptacle sur- 
rounded by a whitish involucre, the whole having the 
aspect of an anemone. The rootstock has a pungent, 
aromatic, and astringent taste. — Yerba retima, a weed, 
Frankenia grandifolia, of Texas, CaIifomi.i, etc., whose 
leaves are used as an astringent stimulant application for 
catarrhs. — Yerba Santa. Same as bear's-iceed. 
yerba-mate (yer'ba-ma'te), «. [< Sp. yerba, 
herb (see yerba), + mate, a cup: see mate*.] 
Same as yerba. 
yerbna, «. Same as jerboa. 
yercum(yer'kum), n. [E. Ind. (Madras): Tamil 
erukku, errukam.] 1. An East Indian shrub or 
small tree, Calotropis gigantea. The fiber of its in- 
ner bark is extremely tough and durable, and is made into 
bow-strings, fish-lines, and nets. The name belongs also 
to C. proeera, whicii, in common with this species, has a 
medicinal root-bark. Also called madar. 
2. The fiber obtained from this plant. 
yercum- fiber (yer'kiim-fi"bfer), H. Same as 
yercuni, 2. 
yerdt. yerdet, ". Middle English forms of yardl, 
yard^. 
yere^t, i- An old spelling of year. 
yere'^ (yer). adv. A dialectal variant of here. 
[Southern U. S.] 
yerga (yer'ga), n. [Cf. Russ. (Cossack) ergakii, 
skin of a horse or camel.] A woolen material 
made for horse-blankets. 
yerfclf, ''• A Middle English form of yark^. 
yerk- (yerk), r. [Also yark; a var. ot jerk^.] 
1. trans. 1. To lash; strike smartly; beat; 
hence, to rouse; excite. [Obsolete or Scotch.] 
Yerk him soundly ; 
'Twas Rhadamanth's sentence ; do your office, Furies. 
Massinger, A Very Woman, ii. 3. 
Stripes justly given yerk us with their fall. 
But causeless whipping smarts the most of all. 
Herrick, Smart. 
Just now I've ta'en the fit o ' rhyme. 
My barmie noddle 's working prime. 
My fancy yerkit up sublime 
Wi * hasty summon. Bums, To James Smith. 
2. To throw, thrust, or pull sharply or sud- 
denly; jerk; move with a jerk. [Obsolete or 
provincial.] 
He yerked np his trousers. 5. Judd, Margaret, i. 5. 
3. To bind or tie tightly or with a jerk. [Scotch.] 
But he is my sister's son — my own nephew — onr flesh 
and blood — and his hands and feet are yrrked as tight as 
cords can be drawn. Scott, Heart of Mid-Lothian, Iii 
