Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BASK'ET-HILT-ED, a.

Having a hilt of basket-work. – Warton.

BASK'ET-SALT, n.

Salt made from salt-springs, which is purer, whiter and finer, than common brine salt. – Encyc.

BASK'ET-WOMAN, n.

A woman who carries a basket to and from market.

BASK'ING, ppr.

Exposing or lying exposed to the continued action of heat or genial warmth.

BASK'ING-SHARK, n.

The sun-fish of the Irish; a species of Squalus or shark. This fish is from three to twelve yards in length, or even longer. The upper jaw is much longer than the lower one; the tail is large, and the upper part much longer than the lower; the skin is rough, of a deep leaden color on the back, and white on the belly. The fish weighs more than a thousand pounds, and affords a great quantity of oil, which is used for lamps, and to cure bruises, burns, and rheumatic complaints. It is viviparous, and frequents the northern seas. [See Squalus.] – Pennant. Encyc.

BAS'QUISH, a. [ba'skish.]

Pertaining to the people or language of Biscay. – Brown.

BASS, n.¹ [Bass is undoubtedly a corruption of G. bars, D. baars, a perch. See Barse. It has no plural.]

The name of several species of fish. In England, this name is given to a species of perch, called by some the sea-wolf, from its voracity, and resembling, in a degree, the trout in shape, but having a larger head. It weighs about fifteen pounds. In the northern states of America, this name is given to a striped fish which grows to the weight of 25 or 30 pounds, and which enters the rivers; of the genus Labrax. A species of striped fish, of a darker color, with a large head, is called Sea-bass, as it is never found in fresh water. This fish grows to two or three pounds weight. Both species are; well tasted, but the proper bass is a very white and delicious food. – Prince. Belknap.

BASS, n.²

1. The linden, lime or tiel tree; called also bass-wood. [See Bast.]
2. [pron. bas.] A mat to kneel on in churches.

BASS, n.³

In music, the base; the deepest or gravest part of a tune. This word is thus written in imitation of the Italian basso, which is the Eng. base, low; yet with the pronunciation of base and plural bases; a gross error that ought to be corrected; as the word used in pronunciation is the English word base.

BASS, v.t.

To sound in a deep tone. – Shak.

BAS'SA, n.

See BASHAW.

BAS'SET, n. [Fr. bassette.]

A game at cards, said to have been invented at Venice, by a nobleman, who was banished for the invention. The game being introduced into France by the Venetian embassador, Justiniani, in 1674, it was prohibited by severe edicts. – Encyc.

BAS'SET, v.i. [See Basil.]

Among coal diggers, to incline upward. Thus a vein of coal bassets, when it takes a direction toward the surface of the earth. This is called cropping, and is opposed to dipping. – Encyc.

BAS'SET-ING, n.

The upward direction of a vein in a coal mine.

BAS'SET-ING, ppr.

Having a direction upward.

BAS-SET'TO, n.

A tenor or small base-viol.

BAS'SOC, n.

The same as bass, a mat.

BAS-SO-CON-CERT-AN'TE, n.

in music, is the base of the little chorus, or that which plays throughout the whole piece. – Bailey.

BAS-SO-CON-TIN'U-O, n.

thorough base, which see under Base. – Bailey.

BAS-SOON', n. [Fr. basson; It. bassone, from basso, low.]

A musical wind instrument, blown with a reed, and furnished with eleven holes, which are stopped, as in other large flutes. Its compass comprehends three octaves. Its diameter at bottom is nine inches, and for convenience of carriage it is divided into two parts; whence it is called also a fagot. It serves for the base in a concert of hautboys, flutes. – Johnson. Encyc. Busby.

BAS-SOON'IST, n.

A performer on the bassoon. – Busby.

BAS-SO-RE-LIE'VO, n.

See BASS-RELIEF.

BAS-SO-RE-PIE'NO, n.

is the base of the grand chorus, which plays only occasionally, or in particular parts. – Bailey.

BAS'SO-RINE, n.

A constituent part of a species of gum from Bassora, as also of gum tragacanth, and some gum-resins. – Ure.

BAS-SO-VI-O-LIN'O, n.

is the base of the base-viol. – Bailey.