Definition

Noun: 1. A prepared meal or supply of food issued to military personnel in the field: A "field ration" is a standardized, portable, and often pre-packaged meal or collection of food items designed to provide nutrition to soldiers, sailors, airmen, or other military personnel when they are deployed, on maneuvers, or in combat situations away from regular dining facilities.

Usage

• The term is used specifically in a military context to describe the official food provisions for troops in active, non-garrison environments.
• It refers to the complete food issue for a single person for a specified period (e.g., one day), not to a single item.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The concept can be extended metaphorically to describe any basic, utilitarian, or prepackaged food supply used in demanding outdoor or remote situations, though this is not the primary definition.
  • The explorers packed enough field rations for a two-week trek into the wilderness.

Variants and Related Words

• Ration (n): A fixed allowance of food or provisions, especially for soldiers or sailors or during times of scarcity.
• Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) (n): A specific type of modern U.S. military field ration.
• Combat ration (n): A synonym often used interchangeably with "field ration."

Synonyms

• Combat ration
• Military ration
• K-ration / C-ration (historical, specific types of U.S. field rations)

Antonyms

• Fresh provisions
• Garrison mess meal
• À la carte meal

Related Phrases/Idioms

• On rations: To be living on a controlled or issued supply of food.
  • During the siege, the entire city was on rations.
• Ration out: To distribute something in fixed, limited amounts.
  • The commander had to ration out the remaining field rations carefully.

Noun

1. rations issued for United States troops in the field