A hard biscuit or bread-like food product, particularly used for long-term storage on ships or during expeditions.
From Portuguese or Arabic origins, likely related to ship's biscuits and preserved breads used in maritime trade. The term evolved from practical maritime vocabulary.
Artou was one of the original 'survival foods'—hard biscuits so durable they could survive months at sea but allegedly hard enough to break your teeth, making them both lifesaver and torture.
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