A canteen is a small container designed to carry water or other drinks, especially when you're traveling, hiking, or somewhere without easy access to water. Soldiers, scouts, and explorers have used canteens for centuries. Picture a metal or plastic bottle, often covered in fabric or canvas, with a strap so you can sling it over your shoulder or attach it to your belt. The design keeps liquids from spilling while you're on the move.

The word also refers to a place where people can buy or eat food and drinks, often in schools, military bases, factories, or camps. A school canteen might serve lunch to students, while a military canteen provides meals to soldiers. In British English, this meaning is more common than in American English, where people usually say “cafeteria” instead.

Both meanings share the same basic idea: providing food or drink to people who need it, whether that's a traveler carrying water on a long journey or students grabbing lunch between classes.