The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Dole \Dole\ (d[=o]l), n. [OE. deol, doel, dol, OF. doel, fr.
   doloir to suffer, fr. L. dolere; perh. akin to dolare to
   hew.]
   grief; sorrow; lamentation. [Archaic]
   [1913 Webster]

         And she died.
         So that day there was dole in Astolat.   -- Tennyson.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Dole \Dole\, n. [L. dolus: cf. F. dol.] (Scots Law)
   See Dolus.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Dole \Dole\, n. [AS. d[=a]l portion; same word as d[=ae]l. See
   Deal.]
   1. Distribution; dealing; apportionment.
      [1913 Webster]

            At her general dole,
            Each receives his ancient soul.       -- Cleveland.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. That which is dealt out; a part, share, or portion also, a
      scanty share or allowance.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Alms; charitable gratuity or portion.
      [1913 Webster]

            So sure the dole, so ready at their call,
            They stood prepared to see the manna fall. --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

            Heaven has in store a precious dole.  --Keble.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. A boundary; a landmark. --Halliwell.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. A void space left in tillage. --[Prov. Eng.]
      [1913 Webster]

   Dole beer, beer bestowed as alms. [Obs.]

   Dole bread, bread bestowed as alms. [Obs.]

   Dole meadow, a meadow in which several persons have a
      common right or share.

   on the dole, receiving financial assistance from a
      governmental agency, such as a welfare agency; as, after
      his unemployment benefits ran out, his family was on the
      dole for a year.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Dole \Dole\ (d[=o]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Doled (d[=o]ld); p.
   pr. & vb. n. Doling.]
   To deal out in small portions; to distribute, as a dole; to
   deal out scantily or grudgingly.
   [1913 Webster]

         The supercilious condescension with which even his
         reputed friends doled out their praises to him. --De
                                                  Quincey.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

dole
    n 1: a share of money or food or clothing that has been
         charitably given
    2: money received from the state [syn: dole, pogy, pogey]