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; base ², -et )

Origin of basset²

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

Example Sentences

He once described himself as “a basset hound with a 25-watt personality.”

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Los Angeles Times

But a petit basset griffon Vendéen took best in show for the first time last year, as did a bloodhound in 2022.

From Seattle Times

They got together at a cafe in Istanbul — a dog cafe, to be precise, where they were greeted at the door by a resident basset hound.

From New York Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beagle