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Glite Dictionary
C-ration

C-ration

9.3
A canned meal given to American soldiers during wars
  • noun
  • /siːˈræʃən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : ración C
  • The soldiers relied on C-ration packs during their deployment in remote regions.

Examples

  • We lived mostly on C-rations, but I did have one really good meal in HK on the way home.

    Blog text (25)

  • He opened a C-ration canister, eager to eat after a long day of training.

  • During World War II, many troops survived on a diet consisting mainly of C-rations.

Synonyms

ration
vsC-ration
106 4.2

A fixed amount of food or other supplies given to each person during a shortage such as war

is a specific meal type for soldiers not a general allowance
field ration
vsC-ration
2 4.9

A packed meal that soldiers eat during military operations

is a specific canned version issued to American troops in mid 1900s

Surface Forms

C-ration singular
C-rations plural

Morphology

C-ration = ration (transparent) = C + ration

The letter 'C' functions as a classifying letter indicating a type or grade of ration; learners can infer 'a kind of ration' from 'C' + 'ration'.

Etymology

C-ration was the army name for a canned meal for one soldier. The word ration means a 'fixed share' of food and the C was the army label for that type, so a C-ration is a single, canned food portion soldiers ate in the field.