Canteen Meaning
/kænˈtiːn/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA small cafeteria or snack bar, especially one in a military establishment, school, or place of work.
nounA water bottle, flask, or other vessel, typically used by a soldier or camper as a bottle for carrying water or liquor for drink.
Sentence Examples
There is little water left in the canteen.
The canteen is underused, but always dirty and neglected.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the long hike, the thirsty campers rushed to the ____ for cold water.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He filled his metal ____ with fresh water before starting the hike.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from French cantine, itself borrowed from Italian cantina. Doublet of cantina.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Come, stack arms, Men! Pile on the rails; stir up the campfire bright; no matter if the canteen fails, we'll make a roaring night. Here Shenandoah brawls along, there burly Blue Ridge echoes strong, to swell the Brigade's rousing song, of “Stonewall Jackson’s Way.”"
— 1862, John Williamson Palmer, Stonewall Jackson's Way
"Yeah, I worked that bitch. She was buying me all the canteen I wanted."
— 1984 December 29, Mykki Balduff, “Prisons and Roles”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 25, page 6:
"“Well, le’me give you some advice,” he continued. “If someone offers you some canteen, don’t take it.”
I instinctively knew what he was warning me against. But I felt slightly disrespected because it wasn’t as if I were a frail young girl who might go out on a date with someone and feel obligated to have sex because the guy had bought me a Happy Meal. The way I saw it, if someone wanted to give me some canteen, I was getting something for nothing!"
— 2015 November 23, Melvin L. Boone, “Dark Corners”, in Pen America:
"Administrative Confinement, sort of like a jail inside the prison, this is for those waiting on disciplinary court for a violation, or under investigation, plus other things. 2 man cells, allowed your tablets, some property, some canteen including food, reading books. 4 hours outside exercise weekly after 30 days."
— 2024 September 11, Jordangander, “More about solitary: I get conflicting results when I look up what modern solitary is like...?”, in r/Prison:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the long hike, the thirsty campers rushed to the ____ for cold water.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He filled his metal ____ with fresh water before starting the hike.