English
almsfolk
From alms + folk.
Ancient Greek ἔλεος ‘mercy’
…
Vulgar Latin *alemosyna
Proto-West Germanic *alemōsinā
Old English ælmesse
Middle English almes
English alms
Proto-Germanic *fulką ‘troop, army’
Proto-West Germanic *folk ‘military, army, troop’
Old English folc ‘the people, especially the common people’
Middle English folk ‘people, folk’
English folk
Today it means
noun Persons supported by alms; almsmen.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / almsfolk