Forty town criers took part in the World Town Crier Tournament in June 2010, in Chester. Participants travelled from all over the world including entries from America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and Europe. A town crier, or bellman, is an officer of the court who makes public pronouncements as required by the court Black's Law Dictionary. The crier can also be used to make public announcements in the streets. Criers often dress elaborately, by a tradition dating to the 18th century, in a red and gold robe, white breeches, black boots and a tricorne hat. They carry a handbell to attract people's attention, as they shout the words "Oyez, Oyez, Oyez!" before making their announcements. The word "Oyez" means "hear ye," which is a call for silence and attention. Oyez derives from the Anglo-Norman word for listen. The proclamations book in Chester from the early 19th century records this as O Yes, O Yes! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_crier