Beadroll

/ˈbiːdrəʊl/ noun

Definition

A roll or list of names of people to be prayed for; a rosary or prayer beads; a list of names in general.

Etymology

From bead plus roll, where 'roll' means a list or scroll. Historically, beadrolls were literal rolls of parchment listing the names of deceased people (especially benefactors) for whom prayers should be said. The prayer bead beadroll is also called a rosary.

Kelly Says

Beadrolls were basically the medieval ancestor of the honor roll or memorial list—monasteries kept elaborate beadrolls documenting everyone they prayed for, making them accidental historical records of the dead.

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