MAUNDY THURSDAY

The Thursday preceding Easter, on which the sovereign of England distributes alms to a certain number of poor persons at White hall; so named from the maunds or baskets in which the gifts were formerly contained. {See Shere Thursday.) This custom is of very great antiquity; and, according to Ducange, it derives its origin from St. Augustine. (See Nare's Glo ary; Fosbrooke" s Encyc. of Antiquities, p. 702.) MAUR, SAINT, [s. 736]