biscuit

noun

bis·​cuit ˈbi-skət How to pronounce biscuit (audio)
plural biscuits also biscuit
1
a
US : a small quick bread made from dough that has been rolled out and cut or dropped from a spoon
While both types of biscuit use the same handful of ingredients and are quick to prepare, drop biscuits don't rely on any of the finicky steps rolled biscuits require to get them just right.Sandra Wu
b
British : cookie
The children were divided into groups of five seated round a table and each one was given a chocolate biscuit.H. Colin Davis
2
: earthenware or porcelain after the first firing and before glazing
biscuit china

called also bisque

3
a
: a light grayish-yellowish brown
b
: a grayish yellow
4
woodworking : a small, flat oval of compressed wood that is glued into slots cut into the sides of two boards which are to be joined in order to increase the strength of the resulting bond
Have several clamps at the ready; then add glue to the biscuits, push them into the maple slots, and clamp the maple in place. The dry, compressed biscuits swell once glue is applied, so you have to work quickly.Mike McClintock
compare tenon entry 1
5
slang : a hockey puck
To control the biscuit, you've got to win faceoffs.Lindsay Berra
biscuity adjective

see also take the biscuit

Did you know?

Long ago it was often a problem to keep food from spoiling, especially on long journeys. One way to preserve flat loaves of bread was to bake them a second time in order to dry them out. In early French, this bread was called pain bescuit or “bread twice-cooked.” Later the term was shortened to bescuit. The idea of being “twice–cooked” was lost as the term was used for any crisp flat bread or for bread made with baking soda or baking powder instead of yeast. The word was borrowed into Middle English as bisquite, but was later spelled biscuit on the model of the French spelling.

Examples of biscuit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web During a red carpet interview with CNN, the actor talked about what his family had done that day leading up to the major event, which included biscuits and gravy. Perri Ormont Blumberg, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Some of these Southern travel stops are known for impressive regional in-house foods, including barbecue and biscuits, while others are applauded for offering the cleanest bathrooms, friendly staff, and good prices. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Have it alongside Mint Mark’s crazy-good buttery biscuit hot from the oven and you’re practically whisked away to Mamaw’s country kitchen. Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2024 Beef and pork meatloaf coated in mashed potatoes formed a locomotive with a wine cork chimney and biscuit wheels on jerky tracks. The Indianapolis Star, 27 Feb. 2024 Also on the menu: breakfast burritos and biscuits, salads, macaroni and cheese, soups and wraps. Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 20 Feb. 2024 Butter swim biscuits are essentially a pan of drop biscuits that are baked in butter. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2024 It can be used to make bread, biscuits, pancakes, cakes, brownies and dozens of other recipes. Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 But Alice plunked herself down, desperate for some biscuits after a long day of living backward. Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biscuit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bisquite, from Anglo-French besquit, from (pain) besquit twice-cooked bread

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of biscuit was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near biscuit

Cite this Entry

“Biscuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biscuit. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

biscuit

noun
bis·​cuit ˈbis-kət How to pronounce biscuit (audio)
plural biscuits also biscuit
1
: a crisp flat baked product
especially, British : cracker sense 2
2
: a small light bread made with baking powder or baking soda
Etymology

Middle English bisquite "biscuit," from early French bescuit (same meaning), from earlier pain bescuit "bread twice-cooked"

Word Origin
Long ago it was often a great problem to keep food from spoiling, especially on long journeys. One way to preserve the flat loaves of bread made then was to bake them a second time in order to dry them out. In early French, this bread was known as pain bescuit or "bread twice-cooked." Later the term came to be shortened to just bescuit. The idea of being "twice-cooked" was lost as the term was used for any crisp, dry, flat bread product or for a type of bread made with baking soda or baking powder instead of yeast. The word was borrowed into Middle English as bisquite but later came to be spelled biscuit on the model of the French spelling.

Medical Definition

biscuit

noun
bis·​cuit ˈbis-kət How to pronounce biscuit (audio)
: porcelain after the first firing and before glazing

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