[f. SYNOD + genitive -s + MAN sb.1]
1. Pseudo-etymological alteration of SIDESMAN, q.v. (sense 1), after med.L. testis synodalis lit. synodal witness, a representative of a parish attending a synod.
1680. Godolphin, Repert. Canon. (ed. 2), 163, margin. These Sidemen were called Testes Synodales anciently styled Synods-men, thence corruptly called now Side-men.
[1857. Toulmin Smith, Parish, 71. It was directed that four, six, or eight, should appear, together with the clergy, to represent the rest, and to be the ‘testes synodales,’ that is, synodsmen.]
1908. Corringham Ch. Mag. (cover), Synodsmen;—Mr. —— and Mr. ——.
2. A member of a synod in the Irish Episcopal Church.
1870. Contemp. Rev., Sept., 190. The last function of the General Vestry is to elect parochial nominators … and synodsmen to the Diocesan Synod.
1894. Ch. Times, 16 March, 306/4. A large meeting of the lay synodsmen of Belrast.
