An archaic term for a poor person or beggar, particularly one associated with a hospital or almshouse.
From Middle English bedlar, possibly related to Bedlam or from Old English origins meaning 'beggar' or 'one confined to bed.' The exact etymology is disputed by scholars.
Bedlar is so archaic it's nearly forgotten, but it reveals how medieval and early modern England viewed poverty—people without beds or homes were literally defined by their lack of shelter.
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