basset

¹ American  

[bas-it] / ˈbæs ɪt /

noun

1. one of a breed of hounds having short legs, long body and ears, and usually a black, tan, and white coat.

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basset ² American  

[bas-it] / ˈbæs ɪt /

noun

1. an outcrop, as of the edges of strata.

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verb (used without object)

basseted, basseting

1. to crop out.

basset ³ American  

[bas-it] / ˈbæs ɪt /

noun

1. an 18th-century card game similar to faro.

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basset ¹ British  

/ ˈbæsɪt /

noun

1. Also called: basset hound.  a long low smooth-haired breed of hound with short strong legs and long ears

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basset ² British  

/ ˈbæsɪt /

verb

1. a rare word for outcrop

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Etymology

Origin of basset¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from French: noun use of adjective basset “of low stature, short,” equivalent to bass- “low” + -et diminutive suffix; see base ², -et )

Origin of basset²

First recorded in 1680–90; probably from obsolete French basset “low stool,” noun use of adjective basset; see basset ¹

Origin of basset³

First recorded in 1635–45; from French bassette, from Italian bassetta, noun use of feminine of bassetto “somewhat low”; so called because the game is played with low cards; see basset ¹

Example Sentences

It’s like telling me you beat your basset hound in tennis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

She has a new Burmese kitten, Dino, and a basset hound puppy, Poppy.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2024

"Then when Freda died my father himself bought another basset hound, the second Freda, and that was how it all started."

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2023

It could be the day for the petit basset griffon Vendéen named for Buddy Holly.

From Seattle Times • May 8, 2023

He has a black mustache and jowls like a basset hound.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

Related Words

• beagle