"Cram"

[stoutfellow]

I'm rereading The Hobbit, for the first time in many years, and a thought just struck me. Bilbo and the dwarves have just left the Mountain after Smaug's departure, and Tolkien gives the following description of cram

If you want to know what cram is, I can only say that I don't know the recipe; but it is biscuitish, keeps good indefinitely, is supposed to be sustaining, and is certainly not entertaining, being in fact very uninteresting except as a chewing exercise.

The last time that I read this, I was unaware that "biscuit" has different meanings in American and British English - that, in fact, a British "biscuit" is, more or less, an American "cookie". Knowing that now, I have realized what cram is.

Graham crackers.

Am I right?

Comments

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Although "biscuit" is often used as a synonym for "sweet biscuit" nowadays, savoury biscuits do exist as well. "Sea biscuit" or "ship's biscuit" is another name for hardtack, which the description of "cram" matches almost exactly. I give you points for creativity, however!

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

You are aware, I hope, of the meaning of the word "puckish".

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

S'mores the pity!

[sraun]

I always thought of cram as the equivalent of the old Civil Defense shelter survival rations - they were terribly bland, of a consistency kind of like saltines only thinner.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

You (and M) are probably right. But, reading the passage, I was irresistibly reminded of Bill Cosby's "Kindergarten" routine - the bit near the end when the teacher announces that "it's time for a snack".

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, stoutfellow. I think it's graham crackers. So there.