MAUNDY THURSDAY

The Thursday preceding Easter, on which the sovereign of England distributes alms to a certain number of poor persons nt 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 Ducance, it derives its origin from St. Augustine. (See Ware's Glo ary; Fosbrooke's Encyc. of Antiquities, p. 702. MAUR, SAINT, [s. 741]