ˈalms-ˌbasket
The basket containing the public alms, or those of any charitable society.
| 1565 J. Calfhill Answ. Treat. Crosse (1846) 4 Your exhibition belike failed you, and therefore ye thought to pick a quarrel to the alms-basket. 1634 Churchw. Acc. St. Marg. Westm. in Nicholls (1797) 42 To carry the Almes baskete for the poore of our parish. a 1640 J. Day Parl. Bees (1881) 29 We must not come neare But stand Amongst almsbasket men! a 1670 Hacket in Walcott Life (1865) 156 Take the plenty of the earth to your own table..and feed Him with your Alms-basket. |
to live on the alms-basket: to live upon public charity, or on what others voluntarily give.
| 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. i. 41 O they haue liu'd long on the almes-basket of words. 1628 tr. Camden's Eliz. iv. (1688) 603 That he should be forced to live upon the Alms-basket. |