dole Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a share of money or food or clothing that has been charitably given
  2. noun money received from the state
    pogy; pogey.

WordNet

Dole noun
Etymology
OE. deol, doel, dol, OF. doel, fr. doloir to suffer, fr. L. dolere; perh. akin to dolare to hew.
Definitions
  1. grief; sorrow; lamentation. Archaic
    And she died. So that day there was dole in Astolat. Tennyson.
Dole noun
Etymology
L. dolus: cf. F. dol.
Definitions
  1. (Scots Law) See Dolus.
Dole noun
Etymology
AS. dal portion; same word as dl. See Deal.
Definitions
  1. Distribution; dealing; apportionment.
    At her general dole, Each receives his ancient soul. Cleveland.
  2. That which is dealt out; a part, share, or portion also, a scanty share or allowance.
  3. Alms; charitable gratuity or portion.
    So sure the dole, so ready at their call, They stood prepared to see the manna fall. Dryden.
    Heaven has in store a precious dole. Keble.
  4. A boundary; a landmark. Halliwell.
  5. A void space left in tillage. Prov. Eng.
Dole transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Doled ; present participle & verbal noun Doling
Definitions
  1. To deal out in small portions; to distribute, as a dole; to deal out scantily or grudgingly.
    The supercilious condescension with which even his reputed friends doled out their praises to him. De Quincey.

Webster 1913