From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dole \Dole\ (d[=o]l), n. [OE. deol, doel, dol, OF. doel, fr.
doloir to suffer, fr. L. dolere; perh. akin to dolare to
hew.]
grief; sorrow; lamentation. [Archaic]
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And she died.
So that day there was dole in Astolat. -- Tennyson.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dole \Dole\, n. [L. dolus: cf. F. dol.] (Scots Law)
See Dolus.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dole \Dole\, n. [AS. d[=a]l portion; same word as d[=ae]l. See
Deal.]
1. Distribution; dealing; apportionment.
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At her general dole,
Each receives his ancient soul. -- Cleveland.
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2. That which is dealt out; a part, share, or portion also, a
scanty share or allowance.
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3. Alms; charitable gratuity or portion.
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So sure the dole, so ready at their call,
They stood prepared to see the manna fall. --Dryden.
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Heaven has in store a precious dole. --Keble.
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4. A boundary; a landmark. --Halliwell.
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5. A void space left in tillage. --[Prov. Eng.]
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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.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dole \Dole\ (d[=o]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Doled (d[=o]ld); p.
pr. & vb. n. Doling.]
To deal out in small portions; to distribute, as a dole; to
deal out scantily or grudgingly.
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The supercilious condescension with which even his
reputed friends doled out their praises to him. --De
Quincey.
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