soup kitchen

a place where food, usually soup, is served at little or no charge to the needy.

Military Slang. (in World War I) a mobile kitchen.

Origin of soup kitchen

First recorded in 1850–55

As that is not a soup-kitchen, they could not help her, and she tried other grocers and bread-shops.

New Worlds For Old |Herbert George Wells
She'd be in the first soup-kitchen outfit that leaves for the front if it wasn't for her rheumatism.

Georgina's Service Stars |Annie Fellows Johnston
As I left the soup-kitchen, I reflected: The worst microbe in the body of the community is begging.

Stories and Pictures |Isaac Loeb Peretz
She spoke of the heroism of the troops, and stated that since September last she had been running a soup-kitchen for the wounded.

My War Experiences in Two Continents |Sarah Macnaughtan

On Monday, the 25th, I went back to work at Adinkerke station, to which place our soup-kitchen has been moved.

My War Experiences in Two Continents |Sarah Macnaughtan

soup kitchen

a place or mobile stall where food and drink, esp soup, is served to destitute people

military a mobile kitchen