bast

American  

[bast] / bæst /

noun

1. Botany. phloem.

2. Also called bast fiber.  any of several strong, woody fibers, as flax, hemp, ramie, or jute, obtained from phloem tissue and used in the manufacture of woven goods and cordage.

---

bast British  

/ bæst /

noun

1. Also called: bass.  fibrous material obtained from the phloem of jute, hemp, flax, lime, etc, used for making rope, matting, etc

2. botany another name for phloem

---

Etymology

Origin of bast

before 900; Middle English; Old English bæst; cognate with Dutch, German, Old Norse bast; perhaps ultimately cognate with Latin fascis bundle. See bass ³