C rations

British  

plural noun

1. tinned food formerly issued in packs to US soldiers

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Etymology

Origin of C rations

C20: C(ombat) rations

Example Sentences

Wartime museums display the bland hardtack that sustained Civil War fighters, and the canned meats, breads and fruit of World War II, known as C rations.

From New York Times • Jun. 8, 2021

Darkness fell, and the convoy-confined U.S. troops dug into their C rations.

From Time Magazine Archive

The feast, which some troops washed down with pungent Algerian wine liberated from the Cubans, even had a trickle-down effect for 100 local schoolchildren: they received C rations donated by U.S. soldiers.

From Time Magazine Archive

Soldiers with bayonets patrolled streets or baby-sat with begrimed children who had to be wheedled out of tears with jokes and C rations.

From Time Magazine Archive

Moving away, the men found things to do with themselves, some smoking, some opening up cans of C rations, a few just standing in the rain.

From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien