charity school

noun

, U.S. History.

1. an elementary school, usually funded by charitable persons or organizations, for those unable to pay: a forerunner of the public-school system.

Word History and Origins

Origin of charity school¹

First recorded in 1675–85

Example Sentences

If her teaching was no better than her looks, Miss Lucy might as well go to the parish charity school!

From Project Gutenberg

In Cross Street there is an old charity school, with stuccoed figures of a charity boy and girl on the frontage.

From Project Gutenberg

We had a great many fights with the street boys and the boys of a neighbouring charity school.

From Project Gutenberg

Eleanor is no more fitted to be trusted with such an amount of money in her own hands than is a charity-school girl.

From Project Gutenberg

Elsewhere he found in the choir gallery an ‘exhausted charity school’ of four boys and two girls.

From Project Gutenberg