noun
- A hard, dry biscuit or cracker made from flour and water, traditionally used as a long-lasting food supply on ships and in the military.
Usage: nautical; historical
Examples
- Sailors on long voyages relied on hardtack because it could last for months without spoiling.
- The hardtack was so tough that soldiers had to soak it in water or coffee to make it edible.
- During the Civil War, hardtack was a staple ration for troops in the field.
- The ship's stores included barrels of hardtack to feed the crew during the six-month journey.
- Hardtack often became infested with weevils during extended storage at sea.