From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Canteen \Can*teen"\ (k[a^]n*t[=e]n"), noun [F. cantine bottle case, canteen (cf. Sp. & It. cantina cellar, bottle case), either contr. fr. It. canovettina, dim. of canova cellar, or, more likely, fr. OF. cant. corner, It. & Sp. canto. See 1st {Cant}.] (Mil.)
1. A small vessel used by soldiers or hikers for carrying water, liquor, or other drink. [Written also {cantine}.]
Note: In 1910 in the English service the canteen is made of wood and holds three pints; in the United States it is usually a tin flask.
2. A chest containing culinary and other vessels for military officers in a garrison.
3. The sutler's shop in a garrison.
4. Hence: A store or small shop within a larger establishment where refreshments and sometimes other supplies are sold. At a military base the canteen may be as large as a general store; within a school or small company it may be only a small counter with very limited supplies, or a snack bar. [PJC]
5. A temporary location where food is dispensed during an emergency. [PJC]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: a flask for carrying water; used by soldiers or travelers
2: sells food and personal items to personnel at an institution or school or camp etc.
3: a restaurant outside; often for soldiers or policemen [syn: {mobile canteen}]
4: a recreation room in an institution
5: restaurant in a factory; where workers can eat
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
74 Moby Thesaurus words for "canteen": PX, automat, beanery, bistro, buffet, buvette, cafe, cafeteria, calabash, cantina, carafe, carboy, caster, chophouse, chuck wagon, coffee shop, coffeehouse, coffeeroom, commissary, cookhouse, cookshack, cookshop, cruet, cruse, decanter, demijohn, diner, dining hall, dining room, dog wagon, drive-in, drive-in restaurant, eatery, eating house, ewer, fast-food chain, fifth, flacon, flagon, flask, flasket, gourd, grill, grillroom, hamburger stand, hash house, hashery, hipflask, hot-dog stand, hot-water bottle, jar, jeroboam, jug, kitchen, lota, lunch counter, lunch wagon, luncheonette, lunchroom, magnum, mess hall, mussuk, olla, phial, pizzeria, post exchange, quick-lunch counter, restaurant, smorgasbord, snack bar, stoup, tavern, tearoom, trattoria
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