In British English, sweet or savory baked goods typically eaten with tea; in American English, soft, flaky bread rolls often served with meals. Both derive from twice-baked hard crackers originally made for long sea voyages.
From Old French bescuit, from Latin bis coctus meaning 'twice cooked.' Originally referred to hard, dry crackers baked twice to remove moisture for preservation during long journeys, especially sea voyages where fresh food was unavailable.
The Great Biscuit Divide between British and American English creates endless confusion - what Americans call biscuits, Britons call scones, while British biscuits are what Americans call cookies. This linguistic split reflects different culinary traditions that diverged after colonial times.
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