noun / verb

ration

RASH-uhn/ˈræʃn/

A fixed allowance of supplies, or limiting their use or distribution to such allowances.

Each hiker receives a daily ration of food for the trip.

Identical measured food portions are divided into daily ration containers, fixed allowed supplies.

Etymology

rationLatinreckoning, calculation; computed share

Latin ratio meant a reckoning or calculation and came to mean a computed share of food. A ration is thus an amount calculated as someone’s fixed allowance.

In context

Addressing Gettysburg83:02

Here's a little bit about the marching ration. uh 1 lb of hard bread, 3/4s of a pound of salt pork or 1 and 1/4 lb of fresh meat

Feeding Soldiers at the Battle of Gettysburg | Ask A Gettysburg Guide #112 | with LBG Rich Kohr

More examples

The town rations water during the drought.
The soldiers collect their daily rations before leaving camp.
We rationed our remaining fuel to keep the generator running longer.

Forms

ration · rations · rationed · rationing

Similar words

allowance: An amount permitted or provided, not necessarily scarce supplies.
portion: A share or serving, not necessarily a fixed allowance.
limit: Restricts an amount without necessarily assigning individual shares.