Flapjack is derived from the word “flap”, meaning to hang loose, and “jack”, meaning a small coin or piece of candy. In the early 19th century, flapjacks were called pancake jacks because they were similar to large coins. These pancakes were a common breakfast food and their convenient round shape made them easier to eat on the go. By the 1860s, the name had evolved into flapjack. Another theory suggests that the term pancake jack was derived from flapjack, a slang word for a flat wallet or purse. Whether it came first, flapjacks or pancake jacks, the two names continue to be synonymous.