1. men who receive charity or live on alms; recipients of charitable donations
Usage: archaic; historical

Examples

• The medieval monastery provided shelter for local almsmen.
• Almsmen gathered at the church door hoping for donations.
• The wealthy merchant regularly gave coins to the almsmen in the town square.
• Historical records show that almsmen often lived in special housing provided by religious institutions.
• The old almsmen told stories of their younger days to anyone who would listen.
• During harsh winters, almsmen depended entirely on the generosity of others for survival.