victuals

victuals \VIT-uhlz\, noun:

food or provisions, esp. for humans

Before the hurricane hit, we went to the store for victuals.

c 1303, vitaylle (singular), from Anglo-French and Old French vitaille, from Late Latin victualia "provisions," noun use of plural of victualis "of nourishment," from victus "livelihood, food, sustenance," from base of vivere "to live." Spelling altered by 1523 to conform with Latin, but pronunciation remains "vittles."