The Collaborative International Dictionary
Dole \Dole\, n. [AS. d[=a]l portion; same word as d[=ae]l. See Deal.]
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Distribution; dealing; apportionment.
At her general dole, Each receives his ancient soul. -- Cleveland.
That which is dealt out; a part, share, or portion also, a scanty share or allowance.
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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. A boundary; a landmark.
--Halliwell.-
A void space left in tillage.
--[Prov. Eng.]Dole beer, beer bestowed as alms. [Obs.]
Dole bread, bread bestowed as alms. [Obs.]
Dole meadow, a meadow in which several persons have a common right or share.
on the dole, receiving financial assistance from a governmental agency, such as a welfare agency; as, after his unemployment benefits ran out, his family was on the dole for a year.
Usage examples of "on the dole".
Even in economicsthe strongest, fastest, cleverest get the fat of the land, while the bulk of humanity exists on the dole, rotting in little stamped-out prefab apartments while a huge amount of government is devoted to keeping them fed and entertained with televisors, happy drugs, and the .
The money was the same as you'd get paid by the benefit office for being on the dole.
After his first spell on the dole, Michael joined a grain-packing company, but found he was allergic to corn and, having been supplied with a medical certificate to prove it, collected his first redundancy cheque.
We used to go there to play golf at the course on the Dole Plantation.
These people make a career out of what my father used to call `being on the dole.
One light went out on the sector map in the office of the Master Timekeeper, while notification was entered for fax reproduction, and Georgette Delahanty's name was entered on the dole roles till she could remarry.