Is Breadline One Word?

breadline noun (GROUP)

What's the meaning of breadline?

: a line of people waiting to receive free food.

Why is it called breadline?

The Origin - Where does 'Living on the Breadline' Come From? The 'breadline' was literally a queue for free food handed out by the US government in the 1820s. Living 'in' the breadline evolved to 'on' or 'below' as it became a term to describe living in borderline poverty, especially in the UK.