Basque
[bask]
- one of a people of unknown origin inhabiting the western Pyrenees regions in France and Spain.
- their language, not known to be related to any other language.
- (lowercase) a close-fitting bodice, sometimes having an extension that covers the hips.
- (lowercase) the extension of this bodice or of a doublet.
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- of or relating to the Basques or their language.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for basque
Contemporary Examples
Late in the afternoon of April 26, 1937 waves of bombers obliterated the ancient capital of Basque Spain, Guernica.
Life Under Air Strikes: Children Under Fire Will Never Forget — or ForgiveClive Irving
August 3, 2014
Hemingway and his first wife Hadley went from the Basque country to Pamplona over the Pyrenees by bus.
As we pulled back the sheets the bed was full of confetti in the Basque colors, red, white and green.
We were headed to the small port of St-Jean-de-Luz in the Basque country near the Spanish border.
Aznar jumped to conclusions, quickly blaming Basque separatist organization ETA for the al Qaeda attack.
Historical Examples
The obvious thing was to question the Basque as to long-ago events.
Louisiana LouWilliam West Winter
She was talking low to herself, but she spoke in Basque which he did not understand.
Louisiana LouWilliam West Winter
It is said that, in Basque, "you spell Solomon, and pronounce it Nebuchadnezzar."
A Short History of SpainMary Platt Parmele
Whenever a man talks indifferent Spanish, he says he is from the Basque.
Confessions Of Con CreganCharles James Lever
The girl was the wilful daughter of a Basque rancher over on the Porcupine.
They of the High TrailsHamlin Garland
basque
- a short extension below the waist to the bodice of a woman's jacket, etc
- a tight-fitting bodice for women
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Word Origin
C19: perhaps from Basque
Basque
- a member of a people of unknown origin living around the W Pyrenees in France and Spain
- the language of this people, of no known relationship with any other language
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- relating to, denoting, or characteristic of this people or their language
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Word Origin
C19: from French, from Latin Vascō a Basque
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for basque
Basque
1817 (adj.), 1835 (n.), from French, from Spanish vasco (adj.), from vascon (n.), from Latin Vascones (Vasconia was the Roman name for the up-country of the western Pyrenees), said by von Humboldt to originally mean "foresters" but more likely a Latinized version of the people's name for themselves, euskara or eskuara.
This contains a basic element -sk- which is believed to relate to maritime people or sailors, and which is also found in the name of the Etruscans .... [Room, "Placenames of the World," 2006]
Earlier in English was Basquish (1610s, noun and adjective); Baskles (plural noun, late 14c.); Baskon (mid-15c.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper