Middle English Dictionary Entry
bast n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | bast n.(1) |
| Etymology | OE bæst |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The fiber of the inner bark of the linden tree, bast; ~ rop; (b) inner bark; (c) ~ tre, linden tree, basswood.
Associated quotations
a
- (1296) Newcastle Galley in Archaeol.Ael.4.2186 : De nave Gerkini de Berewyk Capiuntur..vnum velum pro Bargia..et Corde de Bast'.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester7 : Un Cable de Bast Gros.
- (1420-1) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.503 : ii parvis peciis bastrops.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4981 : A ferly faire tre..vacant of leues..With-outen bark ouþir bast.
c
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)647 : Tilia: bastetre.
2.
(a) A rope made of bast [short for bast rop]; (b) ?a mat; bar as a ~.
Associated quotations
a
- (1356) *Pipe Roll (PRO) 32 Edw.III m.33/2b [OD col.] : ij topplynes..xij bastes..et ij boteropes.
- (1394) Invent.Monk-Wear.in Sur.Soc.29183 : j kartrape, j waynerape, ij bastys.
- (c1403) Fabric R.Yk.Min.in Sur.Soc.3523 : In baudrikes factis de telis equorum, cum basts emptis pro portagio lapidum.
- (1425) *For.Acc.(PRO) 3 Hen.VI G/1 [OD col.] : In..ij Cordis vocatis bastes pro moryng.
- c1440 St.Chris.(Thrn)642 : Take a stalworthe baste And bynde my handes byhynd me faste.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14777 : Megre and lene..Dreye as a bast, voyde off blood, Hyr fflessh wastyd.
b
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4773 : All the caves in the castell clenely þai sought, Robbit the Riches..Till all was bare as a bast, to þe bigge woghes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1339 : He..sees his bild voidid, Als bare as a bast [Dub: baste] his baistell a-way.