basswood

[ bas-wood ]

noun
  1. any tree of the genus Tilia, especially T. americana, the American linden, having drooping branches and large, toothed, ovate leaves.

  2. the wood of a linden.

Origin of basswood

1
An Americanism dating back to 1660–70; bass3 + wood1

Words Nearby basswood

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How to use basswood in a sentence

  • From the basswood, he made a strong harness for the dogs, so that they could draw the load of game back to the camp for him.

  • The blades, Fig. 3, are made of thin basswood or hard maple, and each is fastened in its place by means of two 3/8-in.

  • All structural timbers and poles were fastened by tying with ropes of raw hide or of basswood or elm fiber.

    Prairie Smoke (Second Edition, Revised) | Melvin Randolph Gilmore
  • We would cut the basswood chunks about a foot long as it was a very straight wood, soft and wonderful to split for kindling.

  • Finally he swam underneath the flock, caught several by the feet, and tied them to his belt with withes of basswood bark.

    Indian Legends Retold | Elaine Goodale Eastman

British Dictionary definitions for basswood

basswood

/ (ˈbæsˌwʊd) /


noun
  1. any of several North American linden trees, esp Tilia americana: Sometimes shortened to: bass

  2. the soft light-coloured wood of any of these trees, used for furniture

Origin of basswood

1
C19: from bass ³; see bast

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012