a stock of merchandise, such as clothing, tobacco, etc, maintained aboard merchant ships for sale to the crew
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slop chest in American English
noun
1.
a supply of clothing, boots, tobacco, and other personal goods for sale to the crew of a ship during a voyage
2. (formerly)
a chest containing this supply
Word origin
[1830–40]This word is first recorded in the period 1830–40. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: baby talk, format, grid, isometric, paraffin