One who lived on alms; a mendicant *friar belonging to of one of the three orders, *Franciscan, *Dominican, *Carmelite. Their members lived on alms while travelling in the world beyond their monastery on the look out for and preaching against heresy. [< Lat. mendicus = beggar < Lat. mendum = a blemish or fault]
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.