In Australia, "biscuits" are what Americans call "cookies," and these traditional treats date back to World War I.
In this case, bikkie (the colloquial Australian word for a cookie), is clipped slang for biscuit (the British English word for a type of cookie), and it uses the -ie diminutive suffix.
SAO biscuits are a savoury cracker biscuit that was launched in Australia in 1904 by Arnott's, the term SAO being trade marked in 1904.
So first things first, I know these as scones, because in NZ and Australia, we used to call these beloved quick bread – scones. But here in the US, they are called biscuits (while biscuits refer to cookies where I grew up, but that's a discussion for another day).
In general, the British, Australians, South Africans, New Zealanders, Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Singaporeans, Nigerians, Kenyans, and Irish use the British meaning of "biscuit" for the sweet biscuit.
In Australia, "biscuits" are what Americans call "cookies," and these traditional treats date back to World War I. It's said that wives and mothers of soldiers in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps—abbreviated to "Anzac"—baked these treats to send to their men overseas.
Scone (UK) / Biscuit (US)
American do have things called biscuits too, but they are something completely different. These are the crumbly cakes that British people call scones, which you eat with butter, jam, sometimes clotted cream and always a cup of tea.
Anzac biscuits are undoubtedly an Aussie and NZ classic, and they're ridiculously easy to make - whether you're marking our National Day of Remembrance or you just want to bake something quick with ingredients you already have in your pantry.
The number one spot for Australia's most popular biscuit we easily give to Tim Tam because everyone who has any knowledge of Australia's culture knows that Tim Tams are a prototype of the country's sweet treats.
noun informal. short for biscuit (def. 1) big bickies Australian slang a large sum of money.
/ (ˈfræŋə) / noun. Australian slang a condom.
See also: 'Dirty Bird' (KFC). “Let's pop into Maccas after the footy.”
What are biscuits in the USA? If you're in the USA, however, a 'biscuit' is what Australians and the English may refer to as a scone. American biscuits are usually enjoyed as part of a savoury meal, served with meat and gravy.
The biscuit that most of us know as the Anzac biscuit is a sweet biscuit made from rolled oats and golden syrup.
At first the biscuits were called Soldiers' Biscuits, but after the landing on Gallipoli, they were renamed ANZAC Biscuits. A point of interest is the lack of eggs to bind the ANZAC biscuit mixture together.
And the honour of most popular biscuit surprisingly doesn't go to the iconic Tim Tam, but to the understated, highly versatile Jatz (Savoy if you're in Victoria or Tasmania).
Tim Tam went on the market in 1964. They were named by Ross Arnott, who attended the 1958 Kentucky Derby and decided that the name of the winning horse, Tim Tam, was perfect for a planned new line of biscuits.
The use of the word 'Anzac' in the commercial production and sale of Anzac biscuits is usually approved, however the biscuits must not substantially deviate from the generally accepted recipe and shape, and must be referred to as 'Anzac Biscuits' or 'Anzac Slice' (not 'Anzac Cookies').
“Referring to these products as 'Anzac Cookies' is generally not approved, due to the non-Australian overtones,” the guidelines state. The Department says on its website: “No person may use the word Anzac, or any word resembling it in connection with any trade, business, calling or profession.”
“The Anzac biscuit recipe evolved in both countries around the same time. While New Zealand may have the first published recipe in a cookery book, recipes often take a few years to filter into published books.”
Courgette or Zucchini
English zucchini goes by courgette in England, the French word for the green gourd.
1. 1. a young woman, who is fig. 'sweet' and/or 'good enough to eat'; thus cold biscuit n., an unappealing woman; show biscuit n., a very attractive woman; also of a man [Williams (1994) offers examples of biscuit as a sexual organ, citing the appearance of biscuits as 17C 'brothel-fare'].