Obs. or dial. Forms: 3–5 almus, 5 -ws, -ows, 5–6 -ouse, 5–7 -ous, 8–9 mod.Sc. awmous. [a. ON. almusa, cogn. w. OE. ælmysse: see ALMS. Almous is thus, so far as Eng. is concerned, a word of independent origin.]
1. = ALMS 1.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19813. Þin orisuns and þin almus Es knauin hei in goddes hus.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 3722. Þan availles almus, messe, and bedes.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VI. ii. 67. He wes a man of almous grete.
1564. Becon, Pref. to Wks. (1843), 20. Niggardly, grudging, and unwilling almous.
1566. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 150. A poore man … asking of his almouse.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 64. The wife may give almous moderatly, without consent of hir husband.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xx. 139. ‘I thank you for your awmous,’ said Ochiltree.
b. sing. = ALMS 1 b.
1826. J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1855, I. 185. White slaves, about the doorcheek, haudin out their hauns for an awmous.
2. = ALMS 2.
c. 1450. Henryson, Mor. Fab., 85. It were almous thee for to draw and hing.
3. Comb.: see ALMS 4.
