bedeau m (plural bedeaux)
From Middle French, from Old French bedel (“officer in minor judicial affairs”), from Frankish *bidil (“candidate”), from Proto-Germanic *bidilaz (“seeker”), from Proto-Germanic *bidjaną (“to ask, beseech”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰidʰ- (“to command”), merging with Frankish *budil (“official representative, herald”), from Proto-Germanic *budilaz (“messenger, herald”), from Proto-Germanic *beudaną (“to present, offer”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewdʰ- (“to be aware, comprehend”). Akin to Old High German butil (“beadle”), Old English bydel (“beadle”), Old High German bitil, bitel (“a candidate, requestor”), bittan (“to ask, seek”). More at bid.