Dole

dole

1. Money or other goods given as charity.
• DrydenSo sure the dole, so ready at their call,
  They stood prepar'd to see the manna fall.
• KebleHeaven has in store a precious dole.
2. Distribution; dealing; apportionment.
• ClevelandAt her general dole,
  Each receives his ancient soul.
3. (informal) Payment by the state to the unemployed.I get my dole paid twice a week.I′ve been on the dole for two years now.
• 1996, Frank McCourt, '', page 107,The men sit because they′re worn out from walking to the Labour Exchange every morning to sign for the dole, discussing the world′s problems and wondering what to do with the rest of the day.
• 1997, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD Economic Surveys: Australia, page 67,The FY 1997/98 Commonwealth budget allocated funding of A$ 21.6 million to the Work for the Dole initiative for unemployed young people.
4. A boundary; a landmark.
5. (UK, dialect) A void space left in tillage.