ration

ration
    n 1: the food allowance for one day (especially for service
         personnel); "the rations should be nutritionally balanced"
    2: a fixed portion that is allotted (especially in times of
       scarcity)
    v 1: restrict the consumption of a relatively scarce commodity,
         as during war; "Bread was rationed during the siege of the
         city"
    2: distribute in rations, as in the army; "Cigarettes are
       rationed" [syn: {ration}, {ration out}]
    

Ration \Ra"tion\ (r[=a]"sh[u^]n or r[a^]sh"[u^]n), n. [F., fr.
   L. ratio a reckoning, calculation, relation, reference, LL.
   ratio ration. See {Ratio}.]
   1. A fixed daily allowance of provisions assigned to a
      soldier in the army, or a sailor in the navy, for his
      subsistence.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Officers have several rations, the number varying
         according to their rank or the number of their
         attendants.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. Hence, a certain portion or fixed amount dealt out; an
      allowance; an allotment.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Ration \Ra"tion\, v. t.
   To supply with rations, as a regiment.
   [1913 Webster]
    

107 Moby Thesaurus words for "ration":
      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