[dohl] 
noun, verb, doled, dol⋅ing.| 1. | a portion or allotment of money, food, etc., esp. as given at regular intervals by a charity or for maintenance. |
| 2. | a dealing out or distributing, esp. in charity. |
| 3. | a form of payment to the unemployed instituted by the British government in 1918. |
| 4. | any similar payment by a government to an unemployed person. |
| 5. | Archaic. one's fate or destiny. |
| 6. | to distribute in charity. |
| 7. | to give out sparingly or in small quantities (usually fol. by out): The last of the water was doled out to the thirsty crew. |
| 8. | on the dole, receiving payment from the government, as relief: They couldn't afford any luxuries while living on the dole. |
