Where does the word “Pallbearer” come from and What does Pallbearer mean?

In England, to this day, a pallbearer is one who does about what the name indicates, one who, at a funeral, is assigned the duty of holding up the corners or edges of the pall draping the coffin.

But in America, unless serving in an honorary capacity only, he is one of those delegated to the bearing of the coffin itself.