almshouse

[ ahmz-hous ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

, plural alms·hous·es [ahmz, -hou-ziz].

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

almshouse

/ ˈɑːmzˌhaʊs /

noun

1. history a privately supported house offering accommodation to the aged or needy
2. See poorhouse
   another name for poorhouse

Word History and Origins

Origin of almshouse¹

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

Example Sentences

I discovered that the cul-de-sac at the end of my road was originally built for a square of almshouses — charitable residences, often funded by church coffers — to alleviate the scandalous poverty of pre-welfare-state Britain.

From Washington Post

Elizabeth studied privately with a physician before medical school and between terms observed cases in an almshouse hospital.

From Washington Post

With almost 1,200 patients, Laguna Honda Hospital was originally the San Francisco Almshouse, and in a way it still is.

From The Daily Beast

Every county had a free county hospital for the acutely ill, and a free county almshouse for everyone else who needed care.

From The Daily Beast

Once at the wish of a friend I was visiting I went to carry some comforts to a neglected almshouse on a Western prairie.

From Project Gutenberg

The poor little dying pauper, lying in her dream at the almshouse, sees the figure of Death.

From Project Gutenberg

The most remarkable things that appear here at this day are a mosque, and an almshouse just by it, both built by sultan Ibrahim.

From Project Gutenberg

A Hamblyn was still a Hamblyn, though he lived in an almshouse.

From Project Gutenberg

I forgot to mention services held in jail and almshouse while in Canon City.

From Project Gutenberg