kitchen police

noun

Military.

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

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

kitchen police

plural noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of kitchen police¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Sent to Germany, he spent a couple of months washing pots and pans on kitchen police duty before jumping at the chance to be a military policeman.

From Washington Times

Then he visited the kitchen police, who found something for him, after which he made the rounds of the mess tables, coming back to me actually bloated with food.

From Project Gutenberg

On the way to Europe he had been in charge of the kitchen police on board the transport and here had earned himself the name of "Spuds" Murphy.

From Project Gutenberg

A large tent was erected for the kitchen and it was there that the men were initiated into the secrets of "kitchen police."

From Project Gutenberg

Since more than 2.500 men were served in the forward mess hall in approximately two hours, the force of “kitchen police” required was large.

From Project Gutenberg