noun
dole
dohl
noun
1
British informal: state unemployment benefit payments.
"He was on the dole for six months before finding work."
verb
1
To give out something, especially in small or limited amounts.
"The charity doled out blankets and hot soup to the homeless."
How to Use Dole
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither unemployment benefits (British usage) or the act of handing something out in portions.
UK vs US
"On the dole" is a British expression; Americans would usually say "on welfare" or "collecting unemployment."
Common pairings
dole out
on the dole
dole money
Word Forms
doled past tense, Doles plural, doles singular
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He was on the _____ for six months before finding work.
Etymology
From Old English dāl, "portion, share" — related to the word "deal."