dole
UK[dəʊl]US[doʊl]
n
A benefit paid by the government to unemployed people.
n
A charitable gift of food, money, or clothing.
Etymology
The word 'dole' has a direct lineage from Old English 'dāl', meaning 'a portion or share'. This Old English term is derived from a Proto-Germanic root 'dailiz', which carries the same sense of division and distribution. The core concept of a 'portion' evolved specifically into the sense of a charitable distribution of necessities, such as food or money, to those in need. By the early 20th century, this meaning became institutionalized in British English, where 'the dole' specifically refers to government unemployment benefits, a portion of public funds distributed to eligible individuals.
Analysis
The word 'dole' is a simplex word. It originates from Old English 'dāl' meaning 'portion, share', which is related to the verb 'deal'. Its functional role is as a complete lexical root.
Examples
He had been on the dole for six months after the factory closed.
In the past, the church would distribute a weekly dole of bread to the poor.
They relied on the dole to get by during the economic recession.