The basket containing the public alms, or those of any charitable society.
1565. J. Calfhill, Answ. Treat. Crosse (1846), 4. Your exhibition belike failed you, and therefore ye thought to pick a quarrel to the alms-basket.
1634. Churchw. Acc. St. Marg. Westm., in Nicholls (1797), 42. To carry the Almes baskete for the poore of our parish.
a. 1640. J. Day, Parl. Bees (1881), 29. We must not come neare But stand Amongst almsbasket men!
a. 1670. Hacket, in Walcott, Life (1865), 156. Take the plenty of the earth to your own table … and feed Him with your Alms-basket.
To live on the alms-basket: to live upon public charity, or on what others voluntarily give.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. i. 41. O they haue liu’d long on the almes-basket of words.
1628. trans. Camden’s Eliz., IV. (1688), 603. That he should be forced to live upon the Alms-basket.
