compo1
/ˈkɒmpəʊ
/noun (plural compos) [mass noun]
1A material made up of a mixture of different substances.The compo consisted of a mixture of chalk and resins and was pressed into a carved wood mold....
- Hard as stone and quite durable, compo soon became the material of choice for architects and designers working with restricted budgets.
- This monopoly was naturally challenged and within a few years evaded by the development of a different recipe for compo.
2 (also compo rations) British Military rations consisting of a supply of tinned food designed to last a specified number of days and carried in a pack.The slick staffers of the Green Zone were reduced to half rations and had to eat compo rations because the MSRs were shut....
- We were also living off compo rations - don't get me wrong, it will keep a soldier going but it is very basic and when you are waiting around for months it really isn't good enough.
- A few boxes of compo rations had been opened and some of the contents removed.
Origin
Early 19th century: abbreviation of composite.
compo2
/ˈkɒmpəʊ/noun [mass noun] Australian /NZ informal
A payment or series of payments made under a workers' compensation scheme: he claimed he’d injured his back and got compo for it...
- They drink, they gamble, they fight, and they claim compo.
- State legislation is shamefully coy when it comes to compo.
- My traumatic condition has only come to light in very recent times, since I heard about those prisoners claiming compo.
Phrases
on compo
Origin
1940s: abbreviation of compensation.