Definitions:

1. A packaged ration of emergency foods developed for the U.S. armed forces in World War II. NOUN
   • K-rations were invented by Ancel Keys, a University of Minnesota public health scientist.
2. A small package of food that can be used by soldiers when they are fighting. NOUN
   • The K-ration was originally made up of items from a Minneapolis grocery store.
3. An emergency field ration formerly used for U.S. armed forces when other food or rations were not available, consisting of three separate packaged meals of concentrated or dehydrated food. NOUN
   • All we had to eat were K-rations and some hot coffee.

Synonyms:

• emergency field ration
• military ration
• short commons
• short rations