biscuit

noun

bis·​cuit ˈbi-skət 

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

ˈbi-skə-tē 

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

Delwiche offers plenty of recipe variations for classics like chocolate chip cookies, pie crusts, brownies, icings, biscuits and beyond, with diagrams and photos to build understanding and, ideally, your dream dessert that’s tailored just to your liking. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025

From cheesy casseroles to buttery biscuits, the Southern Living editors shared their favorite breakfast ideas to make when coming is coming. —Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2025

Break off pieces of dough about the size of a tennis ball (about ½ cup each) for large biscuits or a golf ball (about ¼ cup each) for small biscuits. —Ana Calderone, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Head there for breakfast and get a hearty biscuit or omelet, or choose from nearly 20 burgers and sandwiches at dinner. —Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025

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

Phrases Containing biscuit

• beaten biscuit
• dog biscuit
• pilot biscuit
• sea biscuit
• ship biscuit
• soda biscuit
• take the biscuit
• water biscuit

Rhymes for biscuit

• brisket

Kids Definition

biscuit

noun

bis·​cuit ˈbis-kət 

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 

: porcelain after the first firing and before glazing