small storesn.adj.

a1643 W. Monson Naval Tracts iii, in A. Churchill & J. Churchill Coll. Voy. (1704) III. 324/2 (modernized text) He was formerly employ'd in taking up all Outlandish Provisions, as Pitch, Tar, Rosin, Oil, and other small Stores provided for present Dispatches.

1814 G. Coggeshall Jrnl. 24 Mar. in Voy. (1851) 55 We took on board six casks of fresh water, some fresh provisions, and sundry small stores.

1877 Naut. Mag. 46 195 Small stores as coffee, tea, or sugar was called by the ‘geordies’.

1921 Hearings before Comm. Naval Affairs on Legislation Naval Establishment (U.S. House of Representatives, 66th Congr. 3rd Sess.) 434 Hereafter the clothing and small stores fund shall be charged with the value of all issues of clothing and small stores made to enlisted men and apprentice seamen required as outfits on first enlistment.

1952 J. V. Noel Naval Terms Dict. 45 Clothing and small stores, standard articles of uniform for officers and enlisted men with such related articles as buttons, brushes, etc.

2000 J. T. Hayward & C. W. Borklund Bluejacket Admiral iv. 48 The jarhead [sc. Marine] with the key to the radio compass had locked it up and left his post to pick up some small stores.

1912 Collier's 7 Dec. 22/3 Well, salt-water soap is drawn from ‘Small Stores’—this is the paymaster's issuing room, where we draw clothes—the price being taken out of our next monthly money.

1938 U.S. Navy Bluejackets' Man. 20 Besides the small stores where you can get all your clothing at very cheap prices, your station will have the following shops.

2004 N. G. Carey Tender Duty ii. 19 ‘Any questions, gentlemen?’ ‘Yes, Commander,’ York said. ‘Does small stores carry khaki uniforms?’

1880 Rep. Secretary Navy (U.S. House of Representatives, 46th Congr. 2nd Sess.) 10 By the operation of this law the ‘small stores fund’ was set aside as a distinct account.

1883 J. A. Smith in Message President U.S. to Congr. 602 Amount transferred, up to this date, from general account of advances to the small-store fund, on account of issues on board ships, during the fiscal year 1883.

1916 Our Navy (U.S.) Oct. 72/1 Stanly Baker gets up every morning at 5 AM with small store slips on his mind. It must be something he eats.

1950 U.S. Navy Bluejackets' Man. 124 The storekeeper who issues this clothing makes out a small-stores slip, in duplicate.

2003 D. Madsen Resurrection i. 23 The bulkhead between the cobbler shop and the clothing and small-stores compartment had also been lifted clear of the deck by the explosion.