lack-all

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word lack-all. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word lack-all, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say lack-all in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word lack-all you have here. The definition of the word lack-all will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition oflack-all, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: lackall

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

lack +‎ -all

Noun

lack-all (plural lack-alls)

  1. One who has nothing; a destitute person.
    • 1850, Thomas Carlyle, “The Present Time”, in Latter-Day Pamphlets:
      To these outcast soldiers of his, unregimented roving banditti for the present, or unworking workhouse prisoners who are almost uglier than banditti; to these floods of Irish Beggars, Able-bodied Paupers, and nomadic Lackalls, now stagnating or roaming everywhere, drowning the face of the world (too truly) into an untenantable swamp and Stygian quagmire, has the Chief Governor of this country no word whatever to say?
    • 1886, William Graham, The Social Problem, page 7:
      Thus feel both the labourers and the lack-alls who do not labour, and partly both have a just grievance and a true quarrel against society.

Synonyms

Derived terms