n. — historical, rare, Newfoundland
common winter provisions consisting of dried foods (e.g. biscuits, dried fish).
Type: 1. Origin — The term dry diet refers to a diet that consists solely of dry foods, or "flour and no fats" (see the 1913 and 1929 quotations). Examples of dried foods include dried and salted fish and meat or ship biscuit (see DNE, s.v. "dry diet"). A dry diet is generally practiced in the winter season (see the 1927 quotation), hence its synonym, "winter diet" (see DNE, s.v. "winter diet"). A dry diet is often associated with economic hardship and subsequent illness or weakness (see the 1916 and 1919 quotations).
See also DNE, s.v. "dry diet".