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

The kitchen police report at the kitchen as soon as their tent is pitched.

From Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917 To be used by Engineer companies (dismounted) and Coast Artillery companies for Infantry instruction and training by United States War Department

“Guess you forget the time you slept through first call, and had to do kitchen police for two days.”

From Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line The Motor Boys Fighting for Uncle Sam by Young, Clarence

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)

"I think he has," said Peter, "but the trouble is he feels that he's got a permanent assignment on kitchen police."

From The Boy Grew Older by Broun, Heywood