soup kitchen

American  

noun

1. a place where food, usually soup, is served at little or no charge to people experiencing food insecurity.

2. Military Slang. (in World War I) a mobile kitchen.

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soup kitchen British  

noun

1. a place or mobile stall where food and drink, esp soup, is served to destitute people

2. military a mobile kitchen

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Etymology

Origin of soup kitchen

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Apparently not when he’s working a soup kitchen, according to these legal aces.

From The Wall Street Journal

A soup kitchen has handed out 120 food parcels in under 20 minutes.

From BBC

"We'll let the parent know that it's there, and then the child doesn't know that it was from a soup kitchen, because some parents are embarrassed."

From BBC

You can still volunteer at a local soup kitchen, nursing home, or hospital.

From Salon

Religious groups terrified to run their soup kitchens.

From Salon