k ration
Definition
- Noun:
- A small, portable package of emergency food rations issued to United States military personnel, primarily during World War II. It was designed as a short-duration, individual combat ration.
Usage
- The term "K ration" is a proper noun referring to a specific historical item. It is typically used in historical, military, or survival contexts.
- It is often preceded by the article "a" (for a single package) or used in the plural form "K rations."
Examples
- Noun:
- The soldier opened his K ration to find a tin of meat, biscuits, and a chocolate bar.
- During the invasion, troops were supplied with K rations for three days.
- Collectors seek original, unopened K rations from World War II.
Advanced Usage
- The "K" in K ration is often said to stand for "Kansas," after Dr. Ancel Keys, the physiologist who helped develop it, or for "Kommando," but its exact origin is debated. It is correctly written with a capital "K."
- The term can be used metaphorically to describe any basic, compact, or emergency food supply.
- Before the hurricane, we stocked up on canned goods—our modern K rations.
Variants and Related Words
- Ration (n): A fixed allowance of food or provisions.
- C-ration (n): Another type of prepared, canned combat ration used by the U.S. military before and during WWII and later conflicts.
- MRE (Meal, Ready-to-Eat) (n): The modern successor to rations like the K ration, used by the U.S. military since the 1980s.
Synonyms
- Field ration
- Combat ration
- Emergency ration
Related Idioms/Phrases
- To be on rations: To have a limited, allocated supply of food.
- During the siege, the entire city was on rations. (Note: This idiom uses the general word "rations," not the specific "K ration.")
Noun
-
a small package of emergency rations; issued to United States troops in World War II
