kitchen police

American  

noun

Military.

1. soldiers detailed by roster or as punishment to assist in kitchen duties.

2. duty as assistant to the cooks. K.P.

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kitchen police British  

plural noun

1.  KP.  soldiers who have been detailed to work in the kitchen, esp as a punishment

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Etymology

Origin of kitchen police

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Jimmy Durante got himself made "honorary brigadier general" and honorary head of kitchen police, at Camp Langdon, N.H.

From Time Magazine Archive

In my company, when the top sergeant handed out a week of kitchen police to a buck, that buck was out of luck if he couldn't muster a grin and say: 'All right, sergeant.

From The Go-Getter by Kyne, Peter B. (Peter Bernard)

We had become quite proficient with shovels and push-brooms, by reason of previous experience, and strangely enough the men usually chose this duty in preference to the daily duties of kitchen police and guard.

From History of Ambulance Company Number 139 by Various

Men detailed as cooks and waiters, or "kitchen police," as they are denominated in the posts, attended to the preparation and serving of the meals, and the soldiers lived well, indeed.

From Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom by White, Trumbull

In the regular service the roster covers guard duty and other duties, notably kitchen, police and other fatigue work.

From Military Instructors Manual by Schoonmaker, Oliver