A bread-like small cake, made with baking powder as the raising agent. I'm pretty sure they are (almost) the same as the American biscuit. Originated in Scotland, but are found throughout the Commonwealth.
3 cups flour
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
25g (1 oz) butter
About 1 cup milk
Sift dry ingedients, rub in butter, and mix to a soft dough with milk. Knead on a lightly-floured board; roll out to about 6cm thick (approx 3 inches), cut into 12 pieces, and place on a lightly greased oven tray and bake in a hot oven 230oC (450oF) for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.
recipe from the Edmond's Cookery Book
Just to confuse things, to scone someone is to whack them about the head; the head is also known as a scone. (thick and floury??)