English

almsman

Almsman comes from Middle English allmsman, and goes back to Old English almesmann.

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

Formed from alms + man

Ancient Greek ἔλεος ‘mercy’

…

Vulgar Latin *alemosyna

Proto-West Germanic *alemōsinā

Old English ælmesse

Middle English almes

English alms

Proto-Germanic *mann- ‘human being, person, man’

Proto-West Germanic *mann ‘person’

Old English mann ‘human being, person, man’

Middle English man

English man

Every English word from Old English almesmann

noun One who depends on the receipt of alms, a beggar.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.