Poor Law
noun
- Brit. historical a law relating to the support of the poor. Originally the responsibility of the parish, the relief and employment of the poor passed over to the workhouses in 1834. In the early 20th century the Poor Law was replaced by schemes of social security〈英, 史〉《济贫法》（救助穷人一度是教区的责任; 1834年, 救济穷人、安排穷人就业的事情转由济贫院来承担; 20世纪初, 《济贫法》被社会保障计划所取代）。