canteen

[ kan-teen ]

/ kænˈtin /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR canteen ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a small container used especially by soldiers and hikers for carrying water or other liquids.

a general store and cafeteria at a military base.

a place where free entertainment is provided for military personnel.

a place, as in a factory, school, or summer camp, where refreshments and sometimes personal supplies are sold.

a recreation center or social club, especially for teenagers.

a place set up to dispense food during an emergency.

a snack bar.

British. a box or chest for cutlery and other table utensils.

Nearby words

Origin of canteen

1730–40; < French cantine < Italian cantina cellar, perhaps derivative of canto corner (see cant²) with -ina -ine¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for canteen

“The profit from the canteen goes directly back into the facility,” says Van Wickler.
‘Progressive Jail’ Is a 21st-Century Hell, Inmates Complain|Sarah Shourd|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She spent 12-hour days at the Red Cross canteen, doing whatever was needed.
Eleanor Roosevelt: Feminist Icon|Eleanor Clift|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Being popular online is like sitting at the cool table in the canteen…In a mental hospital,” he wrote.
Amnesty International U.K. Board Chairman Resigns Over Crude Jokes|Nico Hines|August 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Canteen cash at the end of each day should be handed over to the Director and entered in the petty cash book.
Campward Ho!|Unknown

With the last of the water in the canteen, he washed her face, he could not wash out the scar of course.
The Chalice Of Courage|Cyrus Townsend Brady
The canteen was surpassed only by Meaulte, of ill-fated memory.
A Company of Tanks|W. H. L. Watson
About the middle of the month the Battalion received its first supply of canteen stores.
The 28th: A Record of War Service in the Australian Imperial Force, 1915-19, Vol. I|Herbert Brayley Collett
A little later he ate two of the sandwiches Wishful had thoughtfully provided, and drank from the canteen.
Partners of Chance|Henry Herbert Knibbs

British Dictionary definitions for canteen

canteen

/ (kænˈtiːn) /

noun

a restaurant attached to a factory, school, etc, providing meals for large numbers of people

a small shop that provides a limited range of items, such as toilet requisites, to a military unit
a recreation centre for military personnel

a soldier's eating and drinking utensils

a temporary or mobile stand at which food is provided

a box in which a set of cutlery is laid out
the cutlery itself

a flask or canister for carrying water or other liquids, as used by soldiers or travellers

Word Origin for canteen

C18: from French cantine, from Italian cantina wine cellar, from canto corner, from Latin canthus iron hoop encircling chariot wheel; see cant ²

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for canteen

canteen

c.1710, "store in a military camp," from French cantine "sutler's shop" (17c.), from Italian cantina "wine cellar, vault," which is perhaps another of the many meanings that were attached to Latin canto "corner;" in this case, perhaps "corner for storage." A Gaulish origin also has been proposed. Extended to "refreshment room at a military base, school, etc." from 1870. Meaning "small tin for water or liquor, carried by soldiers on the march, campers, etc." is from 1744, from a sense in French.

canteen

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of canteen

Examples from the Web for canteen

canteen

noun

Word Origin for canteen

canteen