biscuit

noun

bis·cuit | \ ˈbi-skət

plural biscuits also biscuit

Definition of biscuit

1a 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

3a : 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

— see also take the biscuit

Other Words from biscuit Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about biscuit

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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 Start your day with a breakfast biscuit sandwich topped with country ham, fried catfish or even smoked tofu at Scratch Biscuit Company, which roasts its own coffee (and serves po' boys for lunch, too). — Kelsey Ogletree, Southern Living, "How to Explore Virginia's Blue Ridge from Roanoke," 19 Mar. 2021 The finish lingers on malt with long-lasting toffee and biscuit flavors. — Michael Agnew, Star Tribune, "8 great Irish stouts and ales in the Twin Cities perfect for St. Patrick's Day," 10 Mar. 2021 Among the local food and produce retailers will be Frankie’s Pizza Parlor, a PB&J shop, a biscuit sandwich restaurant and a fish market. — Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, "AMP food hall at 16 Tech delayed," 1 Mar. 2021 Clay had Poppaw's breakfast with a great selection of eggs, biscuit and gravy, potatoes, and choice of bacon or sausage. — Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, "Dining out again!," 21 Mar. 2021 Dogs couldn’t pass by without earning a free biscuit. — Heather Knight, San Francisco Chronicle, "'The heart of our community': S.F. neighbors mourn beloved Castro store owner who died of COVID-19," 13 Mar. 2021 Use a 3-inch biscuit cutter (or a round cookie cutter) to cut scones into shape, then place scones at least 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. — Star Tribune, "Recipes: Irish Scones and Kumquat Marmalade," 10 Mar. 2021 Her ever-changing pastry case and Southern-style menu with biscuit sandwiches and buttery cornbread served with Poirier's Cane Syrup has earned national praise (including a 2019 James Beard Award) as well as a devoted local following. — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, "Chef Kelly Fields Shares Her Favorite Spots In New Orleans, Louisiana," 9 Mar. 2021 Wendy's breakfast menu has several options, including egg and cheese sandwiches on croissants or biscuits, seasoned potatoes, decadent Frosty-ccinos and even some chicken sandwiches, such as the honey butter chicken biscuit sandwiches. — Danielle Wiener-bronner, CNN, "Wendy's went all in on breakfast. It's paying off," 3 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'biscuit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.