poor-rate
Definition
Noun: A tax levied historically in England and Wales (and later in other jurisdictions) for the relief or support of the poor, typically collected at the parish level.
Usage Examples
- (A mandatory tax to fund assistance for impoverished residents.)
- (The tax imposed a financial burden on households.)
- (The historical tax was superseded by modern social services.)
Advanced Usage
"to be assessed for the poor-rate": to be officially evaluated for the amount of tax owed to support the poor.
- Each parish assessed its residents annually for the poor-rate based on property value. (The tax amount was determined by local valuation.)
"poor-rate collector": an official appointed to gather the tax from local inhabitants.
- The poor-rate collector visited every household to demand payment. (The tax official enforced collection.)
Variants and Related Words
Poor (adj): lacking material possessions; of low quality.
- The poor families relied on the poor-rate for basic necessities. (Impoverished individuals depended on the tax-funded aid.)
Rate (n): a tax or charge levied according to a standard.
- The local rate included both the poor-rate and other parish levies. (The tax system encompassed multiple charges.)
Synonyms
- Parish tax: a tax collected by a local church or civil parish.
- Poor tax: a tax specifically designated for supporting the poor.
- Relief rate: a tax used to fund public assistance.
Related Idioms
"pay the poor-rate": to meet one's obligation to contribute to community welfare.
- In Victorian England, every property owner had to pay the poor-rate. (The tax was a civic duty.)
"the burden of the poor-rate": the financial strain imposed by this tax.
- The burden of the poor-rate fell heavily on small farmers. (The tax was particularly onerous for certain groups.)