It's probably most accurate to say that American biscuits are one member of a family of baked goods called "scones" in the rest of the Anglo-sphere: http://www.seriouseats.com/talk/2011/01/biscuits-vs-scones.h... (see the comment by eaguk on 01/18/11). They are savory rather than sweet, bready rather than cakey, airy rather than dense. What Americans call "scones" are exactly the opposite: a sweet, cakey, dense item that is often glazed or fruit-filled: http://www.starbucks.com/menu/food/bakery/blueberry-scone.