Bis"cuit (&?;), n. [F. biscuit (cf.
It. biscotto, Sp. bizcocho, Pg. biscouto), fr. L.
bis twice + coctus, p. p. of coquere to cook, bake.
See Cook, and cf. Bisque a kind of porcelain.]
1. A kind of unraised bread, of many varieties, plain,
sweet, or fancy, formed into flat cakes, and bakes hard; as, ship
biscuit.
According to military practice, the bread or biscuit
of the Romans was twice prepared in the oven.
Gibbon.
2. A small loaf or cake of bread, raised and
shortened, or made light with soda or baking powder. Usually a number are
baked in the same pan, forming a sheet or card.
3. Earthen ware or porcelain which has undergone
the first baking, before it is subjected to the glazing.
4. (Sculp.) A species of white, unglazed
porcelain, in which vases, figures, and groups are formed in
miniature.
Meat biscuit, an alimentary preparation consisting
of matters extracted from meat by boiling, or of meat ground fine and
combined with flour, so as to form biscuits.
