almshouse

[ ahmz-hous ]
/ ˈɑmzˌhaʊs /

noun, plural alms·hous·es [ahmz-hou-ziz] /ˈɑmzˌhaʊ zɪz/. Chiefly British.

a house endowed by private charity for the reception and support of the aged or infirm poor.
(formerly) a poorhouse.

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Origin of almshouse

First recorded in 1350–1400, almshouse is from the Middle English word almes hous. See alms, house

Words nearby almshouse

almost everywhere, almost periodic function, almous, alms, almsgiver, almshouse, almsman, almswoman, almucantar, almuce, almug
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for almshouse

British Dictionary definitions for almshouse

almshouse
/ (ˈɑːmzˌhaʊs) /

noun

British history a privately supported house offering accommodation to the aged or needy
mainly British another name for poorhouse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012