yeoman's service

or yeoman service

noun

1. good, useful, or workmanlike service:

   His trusty sword did him yeoman's service.

Word History and Origins

Origin of yeoman's service¹

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

The rhetorizor, in its cricket's voice, intoned folksily, "We think of rats, of course, as our enemy. But consider their vast value in cancer research alone. The lowly rat has done the yeoman's service for huma—"

From Salon

Watchdogs such as The Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler, who writes the Fact Checker column, or Politifact.com and FactCheck.org, do yeoman’s service policing the advertising and the slippery statements from candidates and campaigns.

From Washington Post

Beyond these beaches the straight sheer cliff sweeps on with what looks like an unbroken wall, though in truth it is gashed by creeks and inlets, while one beach, the Marina di Cassano, has in its time done yeoman's service to the trade of all the plain.

From Project Gutenberg

And he thought what yeoman's service Longcluse might and would have rendered him in this situation.

From Project Gutenberg

In doing this, you did me yeoman's service, although you are even now not aware of this.

From Project Gutenberg