Definition

Noun: A poor box is a container, typically found in a church or other religious institution, specifically designated for collecting charitable donations of money (alms) for the poor.

Usage

The term is used to refer to the physical collection box itself. It is a compound noun where "poor" describes the purpose of the "box" (a box for the poor).

Examples

• The faithful dropped their coins into the poor box as they left the chapel.
• The historic church has a beautifully carved wooden poor box near its entrance.
• The collection from the poor box will be distributed to local families in need this week.

Advanced Usage

• The concept can be extended metaphorically to describe any humble or informal means of collecting donations for a charitable cause, though the term "poor box" itself is not typically used in this way. More common terms would be "donation box" or "collection box."

Variants and Related Words

• Alms box: A direct synonym, emphasizing the contents (alms) rather than the beneficiaries (the poor).
• Collection box: A more general term for any box used to collect money, which may or may not be for charity.
• Donation box: A modern, general term for a container to receive charitable gifts.

Synonyms

• Alms box
• Charity box
• Offering box (specifically in a religious context)

Related Idioms or Phrases

• To pass the hat: An idiom meaning to collect money from a group of people, often for a colleague or a specific cause. This is a more informal, action-oriented phrase compared to the static object "poor box."

Noun

1. box for collecting alms, especially one in a church