poor law

American  

noun

1. a law or system of laws providing for the relief or support of poor people at public expense.

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poor law British  

noun

1. English history a law providing for the relief or support of the poor from public, esp parish, funds

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Etymology

Origin of poor law

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

She was elected to the Nantwich Board of Guardians, who administered the poor law, and also travelled around the country speaking for the ILP.

From BBC • Jul. 29, 2023

Corruption, poor law enforcement and armed conflict have left West and Central Africa vulnerable to international criminals and made the region a hotbed of ivory and pangolin scale trafficking to Asia in recent years.

From Reuters • Dec. 13, 2021

The theory was deterrence: make the poor law frightening and only the most desperate – those truly in need – would trouble the authorities and public purse.

From The Guardian • Sep. 21, 2017

“This was not a case of the Wetterlings saying that that they wanted this looked into because of poor law enforcement – they just wanted to find their son,” Baran said.

From The Guardian • Sep. 15, 2016

There undoubtedly is considerable overlapping between the voluntary hospitals and the poor law in Great Britain.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 7 "Horticulture" to "Hudson Bay" by Various