slop chest

a supply of clothing, boots, tobacco, and other personal goods for sale to the crew of a ship during a voyage.

(formerly) a chest containing this supply.

Origin of slop chest

First recorded in 1830–40

Rainey had found mittens in the schooner's slop-chest, and he was glad of them at the wheel.

A Man to His Mate |J. Allan Dunn
Johnson, it seems, bought a suit of oilskins from the slop-chest and found them to be of greatly inferior quality.

The Sea-Wolf |Jack London
I got out a heavy shirt, new from the slop-chest and made from blanket goods.

The Sea-Wolf |Jack London
We still keep our old quarters, and she has bedded the new-comers in the big after-room with blankets issued from the slop-chest.

The Mutiny of the Elsinore |Jack London

One thing she did appreciate though, and that was the Windwards slop-chest tobacco.

Through Arctic Lapland |Cutcliffe Hyne

slop chest

a stock of merchandise, such as clothing, tobacco, etc, maintained aboard merchant ships for sale to the crew Compare small stores