school milk

British  

noun

1. social welfare (formerly, in Britain) a third of a pint of milk, originally provided free by the local education authority to all young pupils, then later given only to children who passed a needs or means test

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Example Sentences

In Wales, 81,374 pupils up to seven got free school milk in 2024-25, which included whole or semi-skimmed heat-treated milk, whole or semi-skimmed plain yoghurt, UHT milk and lactose free or lactose reduced milk.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

The shortage is affecting the company’s ability to “fully supply some school milk orders,” according to Matt Herrick, spokesperson for the International Dairy Foods Association.

From Washington Times • Nov. 3, 2023

He told the Guardian newspaper that a Dutch school milk program was thought to be one reason the population had grown so tall in recent decades.

From Washington Post • Sep. 19, 2021

In the 1930s depression, he pressurised the government into providing school milk.

From The Guardian • Aug. 12, 2011

Rafik added, sighing in a melodramatic way, “But we do miss the school milk in little red cartons,” which made his mother put her thumb and first finger together like an alligator closing its mouth.

From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye