All 5 Uses

ration
in
The Voyage of the Dawn Trader
(Auto-generated)

The real trouble is water. ... On short rations, half a pint a day each, we've got enough for twelve days.
Chpt 5 *

rations = a fixed portion of something given as a share
Very short rations for dinner and I got less than anyone.†
Chpt 5
Heaven knows I'm the last person to try to get any unfair advantage but I never dreamed that this water-rationing would be meant to apply to a sick man.†
Chpt 5

rationing = restricting the amount of something each person can have -- such as food or gasoline when there is a shortage
Lucy gives me a little of her water ration.†
Chpt 5
Extra water ration tonight.†
Chpt 5

Definitions:

(1) (ration)
a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel; or to limit and distribute something in fixed shares
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)