Beghard
Beghard ({not transcribed}) , noun
[French bégard, béguard; compare German beghard, Late Latin Beghardus, Begihardus, Begardus. Probably from the root of beguine + -ard or -hard. See Beguine.]
(Ecclesiastical Hist.) One of an association of religious laymen living in imitation of the Beguines. They arose in the thirteenth century, were afterward subjected to much persecution, and were suppressed by Innocent X. in 1650. Called also Beguins.
Also: Beguard