Lord ALMONER, or Lord High ALMONER of England, is an ecclesiastical officer, generally a bishop, who has the forfeiture of all decodands, and the goods of a felo de se, which he
is to distribute among the poor. He has also, by virtue of an ancient custom, the power of giving the first dish from the king's table to whatever poor person he pleases, or, instead of it, an alms in money.