Middle English Dictionary Entry
basken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | basken v. Also basklen. |
| Etymology | Etym. unknown; not from ON *baðask bathe (whence the rare OI baðast). See H. Whitehall, PQ 14.229 (1935). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. basten v. for further examples, with which this verb appears to alternate in some contexts (viz., sense 2.)
1.
Intrans. to bathe (in blood), bask, wallow; also refl.; ~ aboute.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.315 : The child lay bathende in hire blod..And for the blod was hot and warm, he basketh [7 MSS: baskleþ] him aboute thrinne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2505 : Seynge his broþer baskyng in his blood.
2.
Trans. To cause (sth.) to be permeated with liquid, perfuse: (a) to soak (a hide) in a solution of alum, taw; (b) wash (cloth, etc.) in dye; (c) med. to apply a wet poultice to (an injury, a bodily member).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 9/38 : Take þre vnces of alum and..a pynte or somedel more of watre..and put hit in a bolle..and take þy skyn and baske hit wel þerynne..vntil þow seest þat þyn alum be wel drunken vp into þy skyn.
b
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 23/14 : Þanne..take and poure out of the clerest of þy lye byfore made a porcion, þat is to wyten as meche as þu myȝt wel and esely basken and wayssche ynne þy þreed or þyn cloþ þat schal be dyed.
c
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.42r : Cancellarius in 6 bok of his Antidodarye seyth þat if þe rotys of bardan be wel coctus in wyn & þe lymes & þe [?read: þe ioyntes] ben wel wasshyd & basked þerwith, & rotis brayd & emplastred, it fordoþ ake & peyne in menbrys & lymes & ioyntes.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.50v : ... þe bak wel wasshid & basked þerwith.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Cf. OED bask, v., sense 1: 'To bathe, especially in warm water or liquid, and so transf. to be suffused with, etc.'