† almous Obs. or dial.
Forms: 3–5 almus, 5 -ws, -ows, 5–6 -ouse, 5–7 -ous, 8–9 mod.Sc. awmous.
[a. ON. almusa, cogn. w. OE. ælmysse: see alms. Almous is thus, so far as Eng. is concerned, a word of independent origin.]
1. = alms 1.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 19813 Þin orisuns and þin almus Es knauin hei in goddes hus. c 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 3722 Þan availles almus, messe, and bedes. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vi. ii. 67 He wes a man of almous grete. 1564 Becon Pref. to Wks. (1843) 20 Niggardly, grudging, and unwilling almous. 1566 Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 150 A poore man..asking of his almouse. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 64 The wife may give almous moderatly, without consent of hir husband. 1816 Scott Antiq. xx. 139 ‘I thank you for your awmous,’ said Ochiltree. |
b. sing. = alms 1 b.
| 1826 J. Wilson Noct. Ambr. Wks. 1855 I. 185 White slaves, about the doorcheek, haudin out their hauns for an awmous. |
2. = alms 2.
| c 1450 Henryson Mor. Fab. 85 It were almous thee for to draw and hing. |
3. Comb.: see alms 4.