Gedunk bar

A Gedunk bar or geedunk bar is the canteen or snack bar of a large vessel of the United States Navy. The term was popular during World War II.

The gedunk bar was usually open for longer hours than the mess. The name allegedly derive from the "gee-dunk" sound which vending machines installed there made when operated.

Such bars were stocked with a wide variety of consumables, such as cigarettes and soft drinks and fresh coffee. In the bigger ships such as heavy cruisers and escort carriers, or battleships and fleet carriers, the gedunk bar also had several flavors of hard and soft ice cream made aboard ship.

Several museum ships such as USS Salem (CA-139) have recreated or restored gedunk bars, complete with examples of period dry goods.

In the 21st century, sailors continue to call a place where snacks are for sale a "gedunk bar" and refer to the snacks themselves as "gedunk".

The term also refers to the à la carte snack bar located in the Student Union at Grove City College, and is currently the name of the college's alumni magazine.

See also

*U.S. Navy slang

External references

GeDunk: Grove City College Alumni Magazine

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