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

See Examples For:

basset

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 29, 2025

Finn, a 4-year-old basset hound dressed as a hot dog, is excited whenever owner Stephanie Hinrichs pulls out his costumes.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 30, 2023

They are doppelgangers, dead ringers with basset hound eyes a signature feature.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2023

"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

Some days he saw mystery everywhere, in earthworms and holly trees and basset hounds, and the inexplicability of even the simplest life so angered and stupefied him that he almost resented any balancing elucidation.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen

Related Words

• beagle