Employé d'une église.
ETYM Old Eng. bedel, bidel, budel, Old Fren. bedel, French bedeau, from Old High Germ. butil, putil, German büttel, from Old High Germ. biotan, German bieten, to bid, confused with AS. bydel, the same word as Old High Germ. butil. See. Bid.
1. A minor parish official who serves as an usher and preserves order at services.
2. Church caretaker or ushermace-bearing official of an institution.
3. Officer of parish, church, court, etc., for keeping order; mace-bearer.