h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When I were a lad I used to read the Billy Bunter books, and BB was forever storing his supply of 'comestibles' (tuck) under his bed.

I remember using this word in an English essay once and the teacher scrawled 'No such word' in large red ink across the bottom!

I argued with him that it was in a BB book but this (and other incidents!!) has led me to lose much faith in teachers of English in British schools.

A snippet from the OED:
comestible, a. and sb.
A. adj. Fit to eat, edible, eatable. Obs.
B. sb. Anything to eat, an article of food; pl. eatables. (Usually somewhat humorous or affected.)

Feel free to feel vindicated!

Reading about your experience brings back memories from my youth...

I've got a host of stories concerning the impoverished vocabulary/lack of understanding of phrases used in humour (i.e. too literal interpretation) of teachers of English in British schools

PS I hadn't noticed that before. I'll use it more often now that I know about it