subs. (nautical).—1. Ship’s biscuits; specifically, ordinary sea-fare as distinguished from food ashore, or SOFT-TOMMY (q.v.).
1841. LEVER, Charles O’Malley, ch. lxxxviii. No more HARD-TACK, thought I, no salt butter, but a genuine land breakfast.
1889. Lippincott’s Magazine, Oct., p. 476. They have feasted on salt horse and HARD-TACK many a day; but they know a good thing when they find it.
2. (common).—Coarse or insufficient fare.
