▪ I. basset, n.1
(ˈbæsɪt)
[a. F. basset ‘a terrier, or earthing beagle’ (Cotgr.), orig. adj., dim. of bas-se low; see base a.]
A short-legged dog used in unearthing foxes and badgers. Freq. attrib. in basset-hound.
| 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Countr. Farm 700 Couple vp all the old earth dogs, and after let loose the young ones, incouraging them to take the earth, and crying vnto them, Creepe into them basset, creep into them. 1883 Illustr. Sporting & Dram. News 23 June 371/2 The last new club is ‘The Basset-hound Club’, its objects being to promote the breeding of pure Basset-hounds d'Artois, rough and smooth. 1885 Daily News 2 May 3/5 Pictures of harriers and bassets. 1928 Morning Post 20 Oct. 6/1 Basset Hounds—those wholly delightful miniatures of the classic Bloodhound. |
▪ II. basset, n.2
(ˈbæsɪt)
Also 7–8 bassett(e (bəˈsɛt).
[(a. F. bassette), ad. It. bassetta, f. bassetto somewhat low, dim. of basso low; see base a.]
An obsolete game at cards, resembling Faro, first played at Venice. Hence basset-table.
| 1645 Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 211 We went to the Chetto de San Felice, to see the noblemen..at Basset, a game at cards which is much used. 1705 Vanburgh Confed. i. ii, Advised her to set up a basset-table. 1716 Pope Basset-t. 85 Poems (1785) 16 Look upon Bassette, you who reason boast; And see if reason must not there be lost. a 1718 Rowe R. Convert Prol. 8 Not to forget Your Piquet Parties, and your dear Basset. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 347 Gamblers playing deep at basset. |
▪ III. basset, n.3 Geol.
(ˈbæsɪt)
[etymol. uncertain; ? from F. basset ‘a low stoole’ (Cotgr.); see basset n.1]
The edge of a geological stratum showing at the surface of the ground; an outcrop.
| 1686 Plot Staffordsh. 131 To what points soever the rise and dip direct their course, the row, side basset or streek, lyes quite contrary. 1830 Edin. Encycl. III. 396 The regular basset or outcrop of the Bedford limestone. |
| attrib. 1791 E. Darwin Econ. Veg. ii. notes, A basset coal-mine at Woolarton in Nottinghamshire. 1851 Clarke in Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. XII. i. 264 The oolite range..presenting a lofty baset-edge to the west. |
▪ IV. basset, v.1
(ˈbæsɪt)
[f. basset n.2]
In phrase to basset away: to play away at basset.
| c 1700 Gentl. Instruc. (1732) 492 (D.) He had bassetted away his money and good humour. |
▪ V. basset, v.2 Geol.
(ˈbæsɪt)
[f. basset n.3]
Of strata: To crop out at the surface.
| 1783 Wedgewood in Phil. Trans. LXXIII. 284, I collected some of this earth, which bassetted out..near Winster. 1843 J. E. Portlock Geol. 98 The strata of the chalk basset, therefore, to the north. |