best mann.
/ˌbɛs(t) ˈman/, U.S. /ˌbɛs(t) ˈmæn/, Scottish English /ˌbɛs(t) ˈman/ Originally Scottish.
A male friend or relative of a bridegroom, chosen to be his principal assistant at his wedding, and usually responsible for carrying out certain duties. Later also in extended use with reference to same-sex weddings. Cf. groomsman n.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > wedding or nuptials > people connected with wedding > [noun] > attendant > groomsman
bridesman1555
bride squirea1637
groomsman1698
best man1782
1782 J. Sinclair Observ. Sc. Dial. 51 Best man and best maid, bride-man and bride-maid.
1814 M. Brunton Discipline III. xxii. 21 A sorrowfuller wedding was never in Glen Eredine, altho' Mr. Henry was the best man himsel'.
1861 S. Lysons Claudia & Pudens 170 Whether they had any bridesmaids; whether there was a best man.
1910 J. W. Clark Weddings & Wedding Anniv. 39 It is the best man's duty to accompany the bridegroom in the carriage to the church, to care for his hat and gloves during the ceremony, to see that the wedding ring is forthcoming at the proper moment and to hand the fee to the clergyman.
1939 D. Thomas Let. 29 Sept. (1987) 418 I am to be best man. Have you got a respectable suit you can lend me?
1988 D. Madden Birds of Innocent Wood iii. 60 James in his role of best man was obliged to sit at the top table.
2000 Gazette (Montreal) (Nexis) 2 Sept. b5 He..was recently happy to serve as best man, so to speak, at a gay wedding in Vermont.
2012 H. Gordon Hard Target 125 Tillman was going to be Gideon's best man in just a matter of weeks when Gideon and Kate tied the knot.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1782