| basal ration | Minimal diet containing only essential components. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| ration | 1. A fixed daily allowance of provisions assigned to a soldier in the army, or a sailor in the navy, for his subsistence. Officers have several rations, the number varying according to their rank or the number of their attendants. 2. Hence, a certain portion or fixed amount dealt out; an allowance; an allotment. Origin: F, fr. L. Ratio a reckoning, calculation, relation, reference, LL. Ratio ration. See Ratio. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |