bast

[ bast ]

/ bæst /

noun

Botany. phloem.

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.

Nearby words

basso profundo, basso rilievo, basso-relievo, bassoon, basswood, bast, bast fiber, basta, bastard, bastard amber, bastard culverin

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 bass³

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bast

Bast, it turns out, runs a bit of a side business involving favors for children done in exchange for secrets.
Inside George R.R. Martin’s New Book (Mild Buzzkill: Only One Story is Martin’s)|William O’Connor|June 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His entry takes the reader through a day of mischief with Bast, the somewhat mysterious creature from the Chronicles series.
Inside George R.R. Martin’s New Book (Mild Buzzkill: Only One Story is Martin’s)|William O’Connor|June 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bast himself spent roughly $350,000 preparing for the end, but it does not have to be so expensive.
How to Prepare for December 21, 2012? Preppers Weigh In|Andrew Carter|December 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
“2012 is a great excuse to prepare for the worst,” Bast says.
How to Prepare for December 21, 2012? Preppers Weigh In|Andrew Carter|December 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Bast says that what we see as the end begins will depend on what form the end takes.
How to Prepare for December 21, 2012? Preppers Weigh In|Andrew Carter|December 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
On the bast they saw the rings all drawn, seven hundred, which the warrior owned.
The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson|Saemund Sigfusson and Snorre Sturleson
She saw that Helen's nerves were exasperated by the unlucky Bast business beyond the bounds of politeness.
Howards End|E. M. Forster
The weight of moisture in the wet fibre, immediately it is drawn from the bast, averages 56 per cent.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Homage and praise to Bast, the cat-headed, the wise one, the great goddess!
A Woman Named Smith|Marie Conway Oemler
Jute, flax, China grass and hemp are common fibres which are derived from the bast of the plants.
The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics|Franklin Beech

British Dictionary definitions for bast

bast

/ (bæst) /

noun

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

botany another name for phloem

Word Origin for bast

Old English bæst; related to Old Norse, Middle High German 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