What is beadle definition?

As an AI language model, I can provide different definitions of the term "beadle" depending on the context:

1. In the context of religion or society, a beadle is a minor church or parish official who assists the minister or priest by performing various tasks such as maintaining order during services, caring for the church building, and leading processions.

2. In biology, a beadle is a scientist who studies genetics, especially the genetic basis of the development and function of organisms. The term originates from the American geneticist George Beadle, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1958 for his work on the relationship between genes and biochemical processes in fungi.

3. In literature, a beadle is a character who serves as a minor official, often with a negative connotation of subservience, cruelty, or hypocrisy. For example, in Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist, Mr. Bumble is the beadle of the workhouse where Oliver is raised.

4. In some specific industries, a beadle may refer to various roles such as a junior officer in a university or college or a ceremonial officer in a historical society or fraternal organization.

Overall, the meaning of the term beadle varies depending on the domain and cultural context.