1. Persons supported by alms; almsmen and almswomen.
1587. Holinshed, Chron., III. 830/1. Thirteene poore almes folke.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Lett., Wks. 1730, I. 184. Railing like almsfolks at the churchwardens.
1811. Coleridge, Notes Theol. & Pol., 366. I alone am lord of fire and light; other creatures are but their alms-folk.
† 2. Almsgivers. (Cf. ALMSMAN 2.) Obs.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. 233 (T.). This knight and his lady had the character of very good alms-folks.