Reading Agatha Christie’s books I sometimes come across words that I recognise, but know they cannot possibly mean what I understand them to mean. I found an example recently in Death in the Clouds.
A murder has taken place on a plane and Poirot has asked for a detailed list of the passengers’ belongings. In amongst those belongings three of the passengers have flapjacks in their bags. I thought that was quite strange, because to me a flapjack is a type of biscuit made of rolled oats, syrup and maybe pieces of fruit. They’re delicious. I wondered why these people would have flapjacks in their bags, along with cigarette holders, cigarette cases, keys, pencils and loose change, etc.
I was intrigued enough to look up the word. Wikipedia tells me that the word was not used to describe a food made of oats until 1935. Death in the Clouds was published in 1935, so it is just possible that Agatha Christie meant the flapjack that I know, but not very likely when I noticed that these three people were all women and also had lipstick and rouge in their bags and none of the men had flapjacks.
The answer is quite simple when I checked in my Chambers Dictionary:
A flapjack is a flat face-powder compact.
And this website adds that it was a term used in the 1930s and 1940s – voilà, the correct definition!
Nothing to do with the murder, though.
See more Wondrous Words at BermudaOnion’s Weblog.
BooksPlease 
Thanks for such an interesting post from one little word. To an Australian a flapjack is also a food- but not a biscuit, although I do like the sound of that- we use it for a small pancake, like a pikelet.
LikeLike
I would have wondered why the women had pancakes in their luggage as well. I love the way word meanings evolve.
LikeLike
Like Louise, here in North America the flapjack would be a pancake. I’ve recently come to know, and love, the English version but thank you for the education on a third item!
LikeLike
Margaret – Oh, that is really interesting! Thanks for sharing! That word isn’t used in the U.S. edition of the novel – or at least not in the edition I have. That’s so interesting…
LikeLike
Interesting – I think of a flapjack as a pancake as well. It’s funny how language evolves isn’t it? Thanks for playing along.
LikeLike
Very interesting post ! It’s funny to see how words can change of meaning.
LikeLike
I can always count on Agatha Christie for a new word or two. This definition is very new to me. I’m glad you played along this week.
LikeLike
So interesting. Like the others from North America, I’d be wondering why people had pancakes in their luggage too! I love how words migrate and change.
LikeLike
Very interesting post , I enjoyed it. Thanks! for sharing.
LikeLike
I’ve never heard that term for it! How strange – I love it when I find that common words have new and interesting definitions.
My words are here.
LikeLike
My kiddos and I were just talking about that word yesterday, wondering what the etymology was – how much fun to come across your post today! I love how words change (and now I sincerely want to try your flapjacks–sound tasty!)
LikeLike
Flapjack – wonderful word.
My students always snigger when we read old texts and they come across the word ´gay´ 🙂
LikeLike
That reminds me; I usually make pancakes on Christmas morning but since Dave is sick, I didn’t. Maybe tomorrow; I’m hungry for them now.
LikeLike
The wonders of the internet! I am myself reading Death in the Clouds, came across the word flapjack stopped to google it, because I couldn’t imagine these well-to-do ladies carrying chewy, crumbly oat biscuits around with them. No joy in Google, no joy in the OED, and no joy in Dr Johnson’s dictionary ! Back to Google then, add “1935” to the search, and here is this book post from 10 years ago answering the very question, sought for the very same reason 🙂
LikeLike