Hardtack: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
hardtack
[ หhษrdหtรฆk ]
food preservation
Hardtack is a type of simple, dry biscuit or cracker that has a long shelf life, making it a staple food for sailors and soldiers during long voyages or campaigns. It is typically made from flour, water, and sometimes salt, and is baked until hard. The texture is very dry and brittle, making it essential for emergency rations and survival situations. Hardtack can be eaten plain or soaked in water or other liquids to soften it for consumption.
Synonyms
biscuit, cracker, hardtack biscuit.
Examples of usage
- Sailors packed hardtack for long ocean voyages.
- During the war, soldiers relied on hardtack as a primary food source.
- Hardtack was often soaked in stew to make it more palatable.
Translations
Translations of the word "hardtack" in other languages:
๐ต๐น biscoito de marinha
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคกเคผเคพ เคฌเคฟเคธเฅเคเคฟเค
๐ฉ๐ช Hartkeks
๐ฎ๐ฉ roti keras
๐บ๐ฆ ััั ะฐั
๐ต๐ฑ twardy chleb
๐ฏ๐ต ็กฌใใณ
๐ซ๐ท pain dur
๐ช๐ธ biscocho duro
๐น๐ท sert ekmek
๐ฐ๐ท ํ๋ํ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฎุจุฒ ูุงุณู
๐จ๐ฟ tvrdรฝ chlรฉb
๐ธ๐ฐ tvrdรฝ chlieb
๐จ๐ณ ็กฌ้ฅผๅนฒ
๐ธ๐ฎ trd kruh
๐ฎ๐ธ hartkex
๐ฐ๐ฟ าะฐััั ะฝะฐะฝ
๐ฌ๐ช แแงแแ แ แแฃแ แ
๐ฆ๐ฟ sฤฑx รงรถrษk
๐ฒ๐ฝ galleta dura
Etymology
The word 'hardtack' dates back to the mid-19th century, derived from the combination of 'hard' (indicating the tough texture) and 'tack,' an old term for food. The origins of the biscuit itself can be traced to earlier periods when explorers and military personnel needed durable food sources that could withstand the rigors of transportation and storage. In the 17th and 18th centuries, seafarers would often prepare similar biscuits, recognizing the necessity for long-lasting provisions on their journeys. The production methods evolved over time, with hardtack becoming widely known as a key component of naval and military rations. Given its reputation for being hard and difficult to eat, sailors often referred to it as 'ship's biscuit' or 'tooth-destroyer.' Its role in the diet of soldiers during the American Civil War further solidified hardtack's place in culinary history as a practical sustenance item.