victual

¹vict·ual

noun \ˈvi-t^əl\

Definition of VICTUAL

1

: food usable by people

2

plural : supplies of food : provisions

Origin of VICTUAL

Middle English vitaille, victuayle, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin victualia, plural, provisions, victuals, from neuter plural of victualis of nourishment, from Latin victus nourishment, way of living, from vivere to live — more at quick

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with VICTUAL

brittle, kittle, little, skittle, spital, spittle, tittle, whittle, wittol

²victual

verb

victualed or victualledvictual·ing or victual·ling

Definition of VICTUAL

transitive verb

: to supply with food

intransitive verb

1

: eat

2

: to lay in provisions

Examples of VICTUAL

1. <the navy was usually equipped, clothed and victualled by the Crown>
2. <that evening the travelers victualed sumptuously on partridge and venison>

First Known Use of VICTUAL

1558

Related to VICTUAL

Synonyms

board, cater, provision, feed

Related Words

serve, wait; nourish, nurture, sustain; banquet, dine, feast, regale; mess; batten, fatten, fill; force-feed, overfeed, surfeit; underfeed; hand-feed, spoon-feed; refeed, reprovision

Near Antonyms

diet, fast

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with VICTUAL

brittle, kittle, little, whittle