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Glite Dictionary
Yeoman of the Guard

Yeoman of the Guard

1 9.9
A guard who stands near the king or queen during ceremonies while wearing a Tudor uniform
  • noun
translation icon : Yeoman de la Guardia
  • The Yeoman of the Guard stands proudly at the entrance of the palace, showcasing their distinctive Tudor uniform.

Examples

  • More trumpets played, and the Yeomen of the Guard, each dressed in scarlet with a gold rose on his back, brought in her dinner.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • On the first landing were more posters, these for the Gilbert and Sullivan operas Iolanthe, Patience, and The Yeomen of the Guard.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • During the royal ceremony, the Yeomen of the Guard played an important role in protecting the monarch.

  • Each Yeoman of the Guard is required to wear a traditional uniform, which includes a scarlet coat with a gold rose emblem.

Synonyms

yeoman
vsYeoman of the Guard
  • UK
1 9.9

A soldier who stands guard and takes part in British royal ceremonies

focuses on wearing the distinctive Tudor uniform and ceremonial appearance

Surface Forms

Yeoman of the Guard singular
Yeomen of the Guard plural

Morphology

yeoman + of + the + guard

The constituent words 'yeoman' and 'guard' clearly signal a guarding role, so a learner who knows those words could infer this refers to a type of guard serving the monarch. However, the expression names a specific historical/ceremonial institution with cultural and uniform details that are not derivable from the parts alone, so the full meaning is not fully predictable.

Etymology

Yeoman of the Guard comes from an old practice where a trusted man called a yeoman stood close to the king as his guard to protect him, so the name now means 'an officer in the royal bodyguard' and they are known for wearing a Tudor uniform.