alms-basket
/ˈɑːmzˌbɑːskɪt/ /ˈɑːmzˌbaskɪt/noun
1A basket from which alms are distributed, or (occasionally) in which to receive alms.
2 Figurative. Especially in to live on the alms-basket (and variants): to depend on what may be freely taken from what others have provided, or from what is publicly available; (also literally) to live on public charity.
Origin
Mid 16th century. From alms + basket.