Dictionary

victual en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• [ˈvɪtɫ̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
• [-ɾ(ə)ɫ] (General-American)
• /ˈvɪtəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈvɪtəl/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English vitaile, vitaylle (“food; food and drink, especially as needed for sustenance; (usually in the plural) food and drink stores or supplies; rations; provision of food and drink as a military stipend; crops”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman vitaile, vitaille [and other forms] and Old French vitaile, vitaille, victaille (“food, provisions, victuals”) [and other forms] (modern French victuaille), from Late Latin vīctuālia, the neuter plural of vīctuālis (“nutritional”), from Latin vīctus (“that which sustains life, diet, nourishment, provision”) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns). Vīctus is derived from vīvō (“to live; to be alive, survive; to reside in”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃- (“to live”)) + -tus (suffix forming action nouns from verbs). The spelling of the modern English and French words has been influenced by Late Latin vīctuālia, though the pronunciation of the Middle English, Anglo-Norman, and Middle French words has been retained.

Meanings

1. (archaic) Food fit for human (or occasionally animal) consumption.
   • And down a rocky pathway from the place / There came a fair-hair'd youth, that in his hand / Bare victual for the mowers: […] 1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Enid”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 56:
   • [D]inner was announced by Bailey junior in these terms: "The wittles is up!" 1842 December – 1844 July, Charles Dickens, “From which It will be Seen that Martin Became a Lion on His Own Account. Together with the Reason Why.”, in The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1844, →OCLC, page 110:
   • Robin promis'd me / A' my winter vittle; / Fient haet he had but three / Goos feathers and whittle. a. 1797, Robert Burns, “[No. 543] Robin Shure in Hairst. […]”, in James Johnson, compiler, The Scots Musical Museum: […], volume V, Edinburgh: […] James Johnson […], published 1796, →OCLC, page 562:
   • [T]he Making of Things Inalimentall, to become Alimentall, may be an Experiment of great Profit, for Making new Victuall. 1631, Francis [Bacon], “VII. Century. [Experiments in Consort, Touching the Affinities, and Differences, of Plants, and Liuing Creatures: And the Confiners and Participles of Them.]”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, paragraph 649, page 159:
   • He [Samuel Keimer] was usually a great glutton, and I promised myself some diversion in half starving him. He agreed to try the practice, if I would keep him company. I did so, and we held it for three months. We had our victuals dress'd, and brought to us regularly by a woman in the neighborhood, who had from me a list of forty dishes, to be prepar'd for us at different times, in all which there was neither fish, flesh, nor fowl, and the whim suited me the better at this time from the cheapness of it, not costing us above eighteen pence sterling each per week. 1771–1790, Benjamin Franklin, “The Autobiography [Part 1]”, in John Bigelow, editor, Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. […], Philadelphia, Pa.: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott & Co., published 1868, →OCLC, page 130:
   • Friday told me, ſuch a Boat would do very well, and would carry much enough Vittle, Drink, Bread, that was his Way of Talking. 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 267:
   • For as the Teeth in Beasts of Prey / Are Swords, with which they fight in Fray. / So Swords in Men of War, are Teeth, / Which they do eat their Vittle with. 1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]. Canto II.”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 35:
   • Man is not what one calls a happy animal; his appetite for sweet victual is so enormous. 1837, Thomas Carlyle, “Contrat Social”, in The French Revolution: A History […], volume I (The Bastille), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, book II (The Paper Age), page 54:
   • [T]hough the Cameleon Loue can feed on the ayre, I am one that am nouriſh'd by my victuals; and would faine have meate: [...] c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 24, column 2:
   • Shift bore (for il aire) as best ye do thinke, / and twise a day giue him fresh vittle and drinke: […] 1878, Thomas Tusser, “Septembers Husbandrie”, in Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. […], London: Published for the English Dialect Society by Trübner & Co., […], →OCLC; republished as W[illiam] Payne, Sidney J[ohn Hervon] Herrtage, editors, Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. […], London: Published for the English Dialect Society by Trübner & Co., […], 1878, →OCLC, stanza 23, page 41:
   • 'Terence, this is stupid stuff: / You eat your victuals fast enough; / There can't be much amiss, 't is clear, / To see the rate you drink your beer.['] 1896, A[lfred] E[dward] Housman, “[Poem] LXII”, in A Shropshire Lad, New York, N.Y.: John Lane Company, The Bodley Head, published 1906, →OCLC, stanza 1, page 91:
   • I must confess your wine and vittle / I was too hard upon a little: / Your table neat, your linen fine; / And though in miniature, you shine: […] 1723, Jonathan Swift, “Stella at Wood Park, […]”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume VII, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 255:
   • [H]is motto was, "Meat first, and spoon vittles to top off on." 1884 December 10, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter XXI, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade) […], London: Chatto & Windus, […], →OCLC, page 213:
2. (archaic, in-plural) Food supplies; provisions.
   • It is good to make prouiſion, for peraduenture wee ſhall lacke victuals and wee lie in campe on Blacke Heath long. 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act II:
   • The citie was thus taken, many of the Turks fled into the caſtell, the reſt were put vnto the ſword, man, woman, and child; and amongſt them alſo many of the Chriſtians, the furious ſouldiers taking of them no knowledge. Great wealth was there found, but ſmall ſtore of victuals. 1603, Richard Knolles, “The First Kingdome of the Turks Erected in Persia by Tangrolipix, Chieftaine of the Selzuccian Family: With the Successe thereof”, in The Generall Historie of the Turkes, […], London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 19:
3. (obsolete, specifically) Edible plants.
   • [C]onſider, what Victuall or Eſculent Things there are, which grow ſpeedily, and within the yeere, As Parſnips, Carrets, Turnips, Onions, Radiſh, Artichokes of Hieruſalem, Maiz, and the like. […] The Victuall in Plantations, ought to be expanded, almoſt as in a Beſieged Towne; That is, with certaine Allowance. 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Plantations. XXXIII.”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, pages 199–200:
4. (Scotland, obsolete, specifically) Grain of any kind.
   • But if the beast and branks be spar'd / Till kye be gaun without the herd, / An' a' the vittel in the yard, / An' theckit right, / I mean your ingle-side to guard / Ae winter night. 1785 September 13, Robert Burns, “Epistles in Verse. To J. Lapraik.”, in R[obert] H[artley] Cromek, compiler, Reliques of Robert Burns; Consisting Chiefly of Original Letters, Poems, and Critical Observations on Scottish Songs, London: […] J. M’Creery, for T[homas] Cadell, and W[illiam] Davies, […], published 1808, →OCLC, page 391:

Forms

Deriveds

victualless · victualry · victualage

Relateds

manavilins

Translations (47)

ang bíleofa (food fit for human consumption) · hy մթերք (food supplies; provisions) · es vitualla (food supplies; provisions) · fi ruoka (food fit for human consumption) · es vituallas (food supplies; provisions) · bg продоволствие (food supplies; provisions) · fr vivres (food supplies; provisions) · sa खाद्य (food supplies; provisions) · ka სანოვაგე (food supplies; provisions) · nl proviand (food supplies; provisions) · hi आहार (food supplies; provisions) · de Nahrungsmittel (food fit for human consumption) · pl prowiant (food supplies; provisions) · da proviant (food supplies; provisions) · ka პროვიზია (food supplies; provisions) · sv proviant (food supplies; provisions) · de Lebensmittel (food fit for human consumption) · ru съестно́е (food fit for human consumption) · sv viktualie (food supplies; provisions) · da viktualier (food supplies; provisions) · es víveres (food supplies; provisions) · pl pokarm (food fit for human consumption) · cs proviant (food supplies; provisions) · ka ხორაგი (food supplies; provisions) · mi kamenga (food supplies; provisions) · fr victuaille (food supplies; provisions) · ang swǽsendu (food fit for human consumption) · fi muona (food supplies; provisions) · de Vorräte (food supplies; provisions) · sa प्सुरस् (food supplies; provisions) · de Viktualien (food fit for human consumption) · bg храна (food fit for human consumption) · ka სურსათი (food supplies; provisions) · pt viadalhas (food supplies; provisions) · pt mantimentos (food supplies; provisions) · ang fóstraþ (food fit for human consumption) · bg провизии (food supplies; provisions) · de Vorrat (food supplies; provisions) · pt vitualhas (food supplies; provisions) · cs jídlo (food supplies; provisions) · gl vitualla (food supplies; provisions) · it vettovaglia (food supplies; provisions) · cs jídlo (food fit for human consumption) · pl pożywienie (food fit for human consumption) · fr victuailles (food supplies; provisions) · ru провиа́нт (food supplies; provisions) · de Proviant (food supplies; provisions)

victual en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• [ˈvɪtɫ̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
• [-ɾ(ə)ɫ] (General-American)
• /ˈvɪtəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈvɪtəl/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English vitailen (“to provide (someone, a castle, a ship, etc., or oneself) with supplies of food, drink, or other needs; (figuratively) to load (a ship with troops and materiel); to fortify, nourish”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman vitailer, vitailler, and Old French vitailler, victuailler [and other forms], from vitaile, vitaille, victaille (“food, provisions, victuals”) (see further at etymology 1) + -er (a variant of -ier (suffix forming infinitives of first conjugation verbs)).

Meanings

1. (archaic, reflexive, transitive) To provide (military troops, a place, a ship, etc., or oneself) with a stock of victuals or food; to provision.
   • In 1512 an agreement was made between him [Henry VIII] and his admiral, Sir Edward Howard, which affords an interesting view of the manner in which fleets of war were then maintained. […] It was also stipulated that, "forasmuch as our Sovereign lord at his costs and charges victualeth the said army and navy, the said admiral shall therefore reserve for the king the one-half of all gains and winnings of the war,[…]" 1857 March, I. P. W., “Historical Sketches of British Commerce.—No. 3. A.D. 1400–1600.”, in The Sailor’s Magazine, volume 29, number 7, New York, N.Y.: The American Seamen’s Friend Society, […], →OCLC, page 194, column 2:
   • He victualleth his soldiers during the time they are upon the guard, either about the palace or abroad in the wars: whereas it is contrary in the King's country; for the Cingalese soldiers bear their own expenses. 1681, Robert Knox, “[Nineteen Years’ Captivity in the Kingdom of Conde Uda in the Highlands of Ceylon, […].] Concerning Some Other Nations, and Chiefly European that Now Live in the Island. The Portuguese and Dutch.”, in Edward Arber, compiler, An English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature, volume I, London: […] E. Arber, […], published 15 November 1877, →OCLC, part II, stanza XXXIX, page 435:
   • Spinola [Ambrogio Spinola, 1st Marquess of Los Balbases] continueth in his trenches before Breda, and victualeth and strengtheneth Breda, which being done, it is thought he will besiege Bergen op Zoom. 1625 July, Walter Yonge, edited by George Roberts, The Diary of Walter Yonge, Esq. […], Written at Colyton and Axminster, Co. Devon, from 1604 to 1628, London: Printed for the Camden Society, by J[ohn] B[oyer] Nichols and Son, […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 85:
   • [T]hy louing voyage / Is but for two moneths victuall’d: […] c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv], page 207, column 2:
   • These veterans were commissioned to defend the place to the last extremity; and, as due time had been given for preparation, the town was victualled for fifteen months' provisions, and even the crops growing in the vega had been garnered before their prime, to save them from the hands of the enemy. 1838, William H[ickling] Prescott, “War of Granada.—Conquest of Baza.—Submission of El Zagal. 1487–1489.”, in History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. […], 3rd edition, volume I, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt, →OCLC, pages 308–309:
   • I could here ſet down the very number of Acres that would bear Bread and Drink, Corn, together with Fleſh, Butter, and Cheeſe, ſufficient to Victual nine Millions of Perſons, as they are Victualled in Ships and regular Families; but I ſhall only ſay in general that 12,000,00. will do it, […] 1683, J. S., “[A Discourse of Trade. […].] That the People and Territories of the King of England are Naturaly as Considerable for Wealth and Strength as Those of France.”, in The Present State of England. Part III. and Part IV. […], London: […] [R. Holt] for William Whitwood, […], →OCLC, part IV, page 59:
   • It was then, among other proof to the ſame purpoſe, given in evidence by a Virginia merchant, that in March, 1763, he had victualled his ſhips for twenty-four or twenty-five ſhillings the hundred weight of beef, which he conſidered as the ordinary price; […] 1776 March 9, Adam Smith, “Of the Rent of Land”, in An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. […], volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, book I (Of the Causes of Improvement in the Productive Powers of Labour, […]), I (Of the Produce of Land which Always Affords Rent), page 189:
2. (archaic, intransitive) To lay in or procure food supplies.
   • [Letter from Sir William Drury to Sir William Cecil, 3d April 1568 (Julian calendar).] The Lord Fleming [i.e., John Fleming, 5th Lord Fleming], notwithstanding he still victualleth and maketh provision, he hath offered three personages of as great livehood as himself to enter caution and surety unto the [James Stewart, 1st] Earl of Moray, that he shall only hold the place at the devotion and service of the young King, and to no other. 1568 April 13, William Drury, “Containing Matters of State from the Earl of Moray’s Acceptation of the Regency in the Month of August 1567, till the Queen’s Retreat into England in the Month of May 1568”, in Robert Keith, edited by John Parker Lawson, History of the Affairs of Church and State in Scotland, from the Beginning of the Reformation to the Year 1568. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] [Alexander Laurie and Co.] for the Spottiswoode Society, published 1845, →OCLC, page 792:
   • A letter from Lt.-Gen. [John] Burgoyne to Maj.-Gen. [William] Heath, Jan. 24. 1778. […] [T]he fleet was fully victualled for four months, for the whole of the land-army and ſeamen. 1779 March, “America”, in The Scots Magazine; or, General Repository of Literature, History, and Politics, volume XLI (volume , New Series), Edinburgh: […] A. Murray and J. Cochran, →OCLC, pages 143–145:
   • For though we took a little Flower hard by, yet the ſame Guide which told us of that Ship would have conducted us where we might had ſtore of Beef and Maiz: but inſtead thereof we lost both our time and the opportunity of providing our ſelves, and ſo were forced to be victualling when we ſhould have been cruizing off Cape Corrientes in expectation of the Manila Ship. 1697, William Dampier, chapter IX, in A New Voyage Round the World. […], London: […] James Knapton, […], →OCLC, page 260:
3. (archaic, intransitive) To eat.
   • I have Drank and Victual’d at Sir Humphrey’s for a Months Famine I am to endure here—I am hung round with Bottles and ſtuft full of Proviſion; will you eat a Pullet? 1680, Tho[mas] Shadwell, The Woman-Captain: A Comedy […], London: […] Samuel Carr, […], →OCLC, Act II, page 20:

Forms

Deriveds

victualling · victualer · victualler · revictual · victualled · victualling bill · victualling house · victualling yard

Translations (14)

pt vitualhar (to provide (military troops, a place, a ship, etc., or oneself) with a stock of victuals or food — see also provision) · fi muonittaa (to provide (military troops, a place, a ship, etc., or oneself) with a stock of victuals or food — see also provision) · pl prowiantować (to lay in or procure food supplies) · pl prowiantować (to provide (military troops, a place, a ship, etc., or oneself) with a stock of victuals or food — see also provision) · cs zásobit potravinami (to provide (military troops, a place, a ship, etc., or oneself) with a stock of victuals or food — see also provision) · cs zásobit potravinami (to lay in or procure food supplies) · it vettovagliare (to provide (military troops, a place, a ship, etc., or oneself) with a stock of victuals or food — see also provision) · es vituallar (to provide (military troops, a place, a ship, etc., or oneself) with a stock of victuals or food — see also provision) · enm vitailen (to provide (military troops, a place, a ship, etc., or oneself) with a stock of victuals or food — see also provision) · pl zaprowiantować (to provide (military troops, a place, a ship, etc., or oneself) with a stock of victuals or food — see also provision) · pl zaprowiantować (to lay in or procure food supplies) · fro vitailler (to provide (military troops, a place, a ship, etc., or oneself) with a stock of victuals or food — see also provision) · ang fóstrian (to provide (military troops, a place, a ship, etc., or oneself) with a stock of victuals or food — see also provision) · ang fóstrian (to lay in or procure food supplies)