Part 931

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An imitation, in pottery, of natural basalt; a kind of black porcelain.</def>

<h1>Basaltic</h1> <Xpage=121>

<hw>Ba*salt"ic</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>basaltique</ets>.]</ety> <def>Pertaining to basalt; formed of, or containing, basalt; as <i>basaltic</i> lava.</def>

<h1>Basaltiform</h1> <Xpage=121>

<hw>Ba*salt"i*form</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Basalt</ets> + <ets>-form</ets>.]</ety> <def>In the form of basalt; columnar.</def>

<h1>Basaltoid</h1> <Xpage=121>

<hw>Ba*salt"oid</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Basalt</ets> + <ets>-oid</ets>.]</ety> <def>Formed like basalt; basaltiform.</def>

<h1>Basan</h1> <Xpage=121>

<hw>Bas"an</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Same as <er>Basil</er>, a sheepskin.</def>

<h1>Basanite</h1> <Xpage=121>

<hw>Bas"a*nite</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>basanites</ets> lapis, Gr. <ets><?/</ets> the touchstone: cf. F. <ets>basanite</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Min.)</fld> <def>Lydian stone, or black jasper, a variety of siliceous or flinty slate, of a grayish or bluish black color. It is employed to test the purity of gold, the amount of alloy being indicated by the color left on the stone when rubbed by the metal.</def>

<h1>Basbleu</h1> <Xpage=121>

<hw>Bas`bleu"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F., fr. <ets>bas</ets> stocking + <ets>bleu</ets> blue.]</ety> <def>A bluestocking; a literary woman.</def> <mark>[Somewhat derisive]</mark>

<h1>Bascinet</h1> <Xpage=121>

<hw>Bas"ci*net</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>bacinet</ets>, <ets>basnet</ets>, OF. <ets>bassinet</ets>, <ets>bacinet</ets>, F. <ets>bassinet</ets>, dim. of OF. <ets>bacin</ets>, F. <ets>bassin</ets>, a helmet in the form of a basin.]</ety> <def>A light helmet, at first open, but later made with a visor.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>basinet</asp>, <asp>bassinet</asp>, <asp>basnet</asp>.]</altsp>

<h1>Bascule</h1> <Xpage=121>

<hw>Bas"cule</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F., a seesaw.]</ety> <def>In mechanics an apparatus on the principle of the seesaw, in which one end rises as the other falls.</def>

<cs><col>Bascule bridge</col>, <cd>a counterpoise or balanced drawbridge, which is opened by sinking the counterpoise and thus lifting the footway into the air.</cd></cs>

<h1>Base</h1> <Xpage=121>

<hw>Base</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>bass</ets>, F. <ets>bas</ets>, low, fr. LL. <ets>bassus</ets> thick, fat, short, humble; cf. L. <ets>Bassus</ets>, a proper name, and W. <ets>bas</ets> shallow. Cf. <er>Bass</er> a part in music.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; <as>as, <ex>base</ex> shrubs</as>.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Low in place or position.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark> "A pleasant and <i>base</i> swain."

<i>Bacon.</i>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Illegitimate by birth; bastard.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>

<blockquote>Why bastard? wherefore <b>base</b>? <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Of little comparative value, as metal inferior to gold and silver, the precious metals.</def>