subs. phr. (military).—Tinned meat; IRON RATION (q.v.): also (navy) = boiled salt beef.
1883. W. C. RUSSELL, Sailors’ Language, pref., xii. Soup-and-bouilli is another standing sea dish, and, taking it all round, is the most disgusting of the provisions served out to the merchant sailor. I have known many a strong stomach, made food-proof by years of pork eaten with molasses, and biscuit alive with worms, to be utterly capsized by the mere smell of soup-and-bouilli. Jack calls it ‘soap and bullion, one onion to a gallon of water,’ and thus fairly expresses the character of the nauseous compound.
1887. Daily News, July 9, 6, 4. The rations will be of the kind known to Tommy Atkins as BULLY BEEF. There may be in it a considerable proportion of mutton, but that makes no difference to him.
