allotment

From Old French alotement, (French allotement).

• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈlɔt.mɛnt/

allotment (countable and uncountable, plural allotments)

1. The act of allotting.
   • 2007, Ruth Chambers, ‎Kay Mohanna, ‎David Wall, How to Succeed as a Leader

     You will achieve more in designated sessions of quiet uninterrupted periods than in a longer allotment of time broken up by various activities.

   • 1873, Henry Sumner Maine, The early history of the property of married women

     The allotment of particular names to special ideas which gradually disengage themselves from a general idea is apparently determined by accident.

2. Something allotted; a share, part, or portion granted or distributed
   • 1906, Thomas William Shore, Origin of the Anglo-Saxon Race Chapter 9

     Similar customs prevailed in a part of Friesland, the most notable of which was the ‘Jus Theelacticum,’ or custom of the Theel lands, doles, or allottable lands in East Friesland, not far from the mouth of the Ems. There an inherited allotment was indivisible; on the death of the father it passed intact to the youngest son, and on his death without issue it fell into the possession of the whole community

3. (law) The allowance of a specific amount of money or other credit of a particular thing to a particular person.
   • 2013, Maxine Holsinger, The Life of Maxine Holsinger

     Maynard used to help before he got sick, but there was no income except what I brought in my allotment.

4. (Britain) A plot of land rented from the council for growing fruit and vegetables.
   • 2015, Cathy Bramley, Ivy Lane

     The fallout of this unexpected turn of events was that it was Saturday morning, the first day of the Easter holidays, before the thought of my allotment even entered my head. Goodness only knew how big my carrots were going to be by the time I got round there!