Bēa'dle, n.

noun

(bē'dl), n. [O. Eng. bedel, A-S. bydel, bœdel, O. H. Ger. butil, putil, M. H. Ger. bütel, N. H. Ger. büttel, D. beul, from A-S. beodan, to command, bid, Goth. biudan, O. H. Ger. biotan, Ger. bieten. Cf. O. Fr. badẹl, bedel, bedeax, N. Fr. bèdeau, Pr. & Sp. bedel, It. bidello, L. Lat. bedellus, pedellus, Ger. pedell.]

A messenger or crier of a court; a servitor; one who cites persons to appear and answer;—called also an apparitor or summoner.
An officer in a university, who precedes public processions of officers and students; a bedel.
An inferior parish officer having a variety of duties, as the preservation of order in church service, the chastisement of petty offenders, &c.