beadhouse

or bede·house

[ beed-hous ]

noun

, plural bead·hous·es [beed, -hou-ziz].

1. (formerly) an almshouse in which the residents were required to pray for the founder.

Word History and Origins

Origin of beadhouse¹

Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; bead, house

Example Sentences

A poor man, supported in a beadhouse, and required to pray for the soul of its founder; an almsman.

From Project Gutenberg