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basting1

[bey-sting]
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noun
  1. sewing with long, loose stitches to hold material in place until the final sewing.
  2. bastings, the stitches taken or the threads used.
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Origin of basting1

First recorded in 1515–25; baste1 + -ing1

basting2

[bey-sting]
noun
  1. the act of moistening food while cooking, especially with stock or pan juices.
  2. the liquid used in basting.
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Origin of basting2

First recorded in 1520–30; baste2 + -ing1

baste1

[beyst]
verb (used with object), bast·ed, bast·ing.
  1. to sew with long, loose stitches, as in temporarily tacking together pieces of a garment while it is being made.
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Origin of baste1

1400–50; late Middle English basten < Anglo-French, Middle French bastir to build, baste < Germanic; compare Old High German bestan to mend, patch for *bastian to bring together with bast thread or string (bast bast + -i- v. suffix + -an infinitive suffix)

baste2

[beyst]
verb (used with object), bast·ed, bast·ing.
  1. to moisten (meat or other food) while cooking, with drippings, butter, etc.
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noun
  1. liquid used to moisten and flavor food during cooking: a baste of sherry and pan juices.
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Origin of baste2

1425–75; late Middle English basten, of obscure origin

baste3

[beyst]
verb (used with object), bast·ed, bast·ing.
  1. to beat with a stick; thrash; cudgel.
  2. to denounce or scold vigorously: an editorial basting the candidate for irresponsible statements.
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Origin of baste3

1525–35; variant of baist, perhaps < Old Norse beysta to beat, thrash
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

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Historical Examples

British Dictionary definitions for basting

basting

noun
  1. loose temporary stitches; tacking
  2. sewing with such stitches
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baste1

verb
  1. (tr) to sew with loose temporary stitches
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Word Origin

C14: from Old French bastir to build, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German besten to sew with bast

baste2

verb
  1. to moisten (meat) during cooking with hot fat and the juices produced
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Word Origin

C15: of uncertain origin

baste3

verb
  1. (tr) to beat thoroughly; thrash
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Word Origin

C16: probably from Old Norse beysta
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

Word Origin and History for basting

baste

v.3

"beat, thrash," 1530s, perhaps from the cookery sense of baste (v.2) or from some Scandinavian source (e.g. Swedish basa "to beat, flog," bösta "to thump") akin to Old Norse beysta "to beat," and related to Old English beatan (see beat (v.)).

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baste

v.1

"sew together loosely," c.1400, from Old French bastir "build, construct, sew up (a garment), baste, make, prepare, arrange" (12c., Modern French bâtir "to build"), probably from a Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *bastjan "join together with bast" (cf. Old High German besten; see bast).

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baste

v.2

"to soak in gravy, moisten," late 14c., of unknown origin, possibly from Old French basser "to moisten, soak," from bassin "basin" (see basin). Related: Basted; basting.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper