LIVELIHOOD
support, keep, livelihood, living, bread and butter, sustenance
(noun) the financial means whereby one lives; “each child was expected to pay for their keep”; “he applied to the state for support”; “he could no longer earn his own livelihood”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
livelihood (countable and uncountable, plural livelihoods)
A means of providing the necessities of life for oneself (for example, a job or income). [from 14thc.]
Synonyms: living, subsistence, sustenance
(now rare) Property which brings in an income; an estate. [from 15thc.]
(obsolete) Liveliness; appearance of life.
(obsolete) The course of someone's life; a person's lifetime, or their manner of living; conduct, behaviour. [10th-17thc.]
Source: Wiktionary
Live"li*hood, n. Etym: [OE. livelode, liflode, prop., course of life,
life's support, maintenance, fr. AS. lif life + lad road, way,
maintenance. Confused with livelihood liveliness. See Life, and
Lode.]
Definition: Subsistence or living, as dependent on some means of support;
support of life; maintenance.
The opportunities of gaining an honest livelihood. Addison.
It is their profession and livelihood to get their living by
practices for which they deserve to forfeit their lives. South.
Live"li*hood, n. Etym: [Lively + -hood.]
Definition: Liveliness; appearance of life. [Obs.] Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition