1. (n.) A fixed daily allowance of provisions\ assigned to a soldier in the army, or a sailor in the navy, for his subsistence.

2. (n.) Hence, a certain portion or fixed amount dealt out; an allowance; an allotment.

3. (v. t.) To supply with rations, as a regiment.

administer allocate allot allotment allowance amount apportion apportionment assign assignment batch big end bigger half bit bite budget bunch chunk clutch comestibles commission commons consignment contingent control count cut deal deal out destiny disburse dispense disperse dispose distribute distribution divide dividend division divvy dole dole out dose eatables edibles end equal share fate food give out gob group half halver hand out heap helping hunk interest issue large amount limit lot measure measure out meed mess mete mete out modicum moiety number pack parcel parcel out part pass around pay out percentage piece portion portion out proportion prorate provender provision provisions quantity quantum quota rake-off rations restrict schedule segment share shift slice small amount small share spoon out stake stock sum supplies viands victuals