poor farm

noun

: a farm maintained at public expense for the support and employment of needy persons

Examples of poor farm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
However, twinkling stars, Captain Kirk and moon milestones could take a poor farm worker only so far. Contributing Writer, Orange County Register, 23 Apr. 2024 The white-planked barn with high cathedral ceilings was built in 1911, replacing a former structure, and is the sole remnant of the county’s poor farm, where the area’s indigent and people in need lived and worked for decades. Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024 According to a history of Oak Forest, a poor farm was established in 1910 on the land that was intended to relieve overcrowded conditions at the county’s existing poor farm on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Mike Nolan, chicagotribune.com, 27 Nov. 2020 And, perhaps, more worthy of the respect for which a poor farm girl once longed. Sarah Smarsh, Harper’s Magazine , 26 Oct. 2022 The forest preserve district’s plans for the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve, along with recreational trails, include a historical museum to educate the public about the poor farm’s history. Mike Nolan, chicagotribune.com, 27 Nov. 2020 The poor farm stayed in that location until 1881, when an arsonist burned down the building. Jess Cohen, Post-Tribune, 18 May 2018 And one of the buildings featured on its Historic Preservation Month posters is Knox County's own poor farm. Jess Cohen, Post-Tribune, 18 May 2018 When Indiana became a state in 1816, the constitution contained a provision for counties to establish poor farms, but nothing was mandated. Jess Cohen, Post-Tribune, 18 May 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poor farm was in 1852

Dictionary Entries Near poor farm

Cite this Entry

“Poor farm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poor%20farm. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

poor farm

noun
: a farm kept by the government for the support and employment of poor people
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