noun
- a person whose function or duty is the distribution of alms on behalf of an institution, a royal personage, a monastery, etc.
- British.
- a hospital official who determines the amount due for a patient’s treatment.
- a social worker in a hospital.
noun
- British obsolete a trained hospital social worker responsible for the welfare of patients
- (formerly) a person who distributes alms or charity on behalf of a household or institution
“official distributor of alms on behalf of another,” c.1300 (mid-13c. as a surname), from Old French almosnier (12c.; Modern French aumônerie), from Vulgar Latin *almosinarius, from Late Latin elemosinarius (adj.) “connected with alms,” from eleemosyna “alms” (see alms).