baste etymology

Etymology

The word "baste" comes from the Middle English word "baston," which means "stick" or "staff." It is thought to have originated from the Old French word "baston," which itself comes from the Latin word "baculus," meaning "stick."

Meaning

Today, "baste" has several meanings:

• To moisten food while cooking: To pour liquid over food while roasting or baking to keep it moist and flavorful.
• To secure: To sew with long, loose stitches to hold fabric together temporarily.
• To whip or beat: A slang term for hitting someone.
• To scold or criticize: Another slang term for reprimanding someone.

Origin

The term "baste" can be traced back to the use of sticks or rods to beat or whip. In cooking, the use of a brush or spoon to pour liquid over food is thought to have been influenced by this original meaning.

Examples of Use

• "I need to baste the turkey every hour to keep it from drying out."
• "I basted the hem of the skirt to hold it in place before sewing it permanently."
• "He basted the other driver for cutting him off."
• "My parents basted me for staying out too late."

baste relate terms

• basin

  Etymology The word basin comes from the Old French word bassin which in turn comes f

• bast

  Etymology The word bast originates from the Old English word bæst which means bas

• tack

  Etymology Tack is derived from the Middle English word takke which in turn comes from

• clobber

  Etymology The word clobber has been traced back to the 16th century with several possi

• batter

  Etymology From Middle English batere from Anglo Norman French battere from Late L

• abet

  Etymology Abet Middle English from Old French abeter from abeter infinitive of abet

• beat

  Etymology The word beat has several origins Old English béatan to strike hit

• beta

  Etymology of beta The word beta comes from the second letter of the Greek alphabet

• cobbler

  Etymology The word cobbler has a convoluted etymology with multiple potential origins

• stitch

  Etymology The word stitch comes from the Old English word stician which means to

• wash

  Etymology Old English wæscan ultimately derived from the Proto Indo European root wes