Biscuit

A biscuit is a baked good that, in period, were hard tack, a food made to survive long journeys. They could be both sweet or savory.

North American usage

What the rest of the world calls biscuits North America, in modern times, calls a cookie or cracker. North Americans use the word biscuit to describe any number of quick breads that do not use yeast to rise. Quick breads are also not kneaded intensely like bread, so gluten in the dough is not fully developed, leaving a soft and crumbly texture to the crumb. Sweet quickbreads are sometimes called scones.