Dole — Defs

01 n. grief; sorrow; lamentation.

1.
grief; sorrow; lamentation.[Archaic]
“And she died. So that day there was dole in Astolat.” — Tennyson.

02 n. See Dolus.

1.
See Dolus.(Scots Law) See: Dolus

03 n. Distribution; dealing; apportionment.

1.
Distribution; dealing; apportionment.
“At her general dole, Each receives his ancient soul.” — Cleveland.
2.
That which is dealt out; a part, share, or portion also, a scanty share or allowance.
3.
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.
4.
A boundary; a landmark.
5.
A void space left in tillage.

Phrases & compounds

Dole beer — beer bestowed as alms.

Dole bread — bread bestowed as alms.

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.

04 v. t. To deal out in small portions; to distribute, as a dole; to deal out scantily or grudgingly.

imp. & p. p. Doled; p. pr. & vb. n. Doling

1.
To deal out in small portions; to distribute, as a dole; to deal out scantily or grudgingly.
“The supercilious condescension with which even his reputed friends doled out their praises to him.” — De Quincey.