canteen

Etymology

From French cantine, from Italian cantina, from Vulgar Latin canthus (“corner”), from Gaulish *cantos, denoting the location for liquor storage, from Proto-Celtic *cantos (“corner”), from Proto-Indo-European *kh₂ndʰ.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /kænˈtiːn/
• Rhymes: -iːn

Noun

canteen (plural canteens)

1. A small cafeteria or snack bar, especially one in a military establishment, school, or place of work.
2. A temporary or mobile café used in an emergency or on a film location etc.
3. A box with compartments for storing eating utensils, silverware etc.
4. A military mess kit.
5. A water bottle used by a soldier or camper.

Further reading

• canteen in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• canteen in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• canteen at OneLook Dictionary Search