Bas"ket (&?;), n. [Of unknown origin. The
modern Celtic words seem to be from the English.]
1. A
vessel made of osiers or other twigs, cane, rushes, splints, or other
flexible material, interwoven. "Rude baskets . . . woven of
the flexile willow." Dyer.
2. The contents of a basket; as much as a basket
contains; as, a basket of peaches.
3. (Arch.) The bell or vase of the
Corinthian capital. [Improperly so used.] Gwilt.
4. The two back seats facing one another on the
outside of a stagecoach. [Eng.] Goldsmith.
Basket fish (Zoöl.), an ophiuran of
the genus Astrophyton, having the arms much branched. See
Astrophyton. -- Basket hilt, a hilt with
a covering wrought like basketwork to protect the hand.
Hudibras. Hence, Basket-hilted,
a. -- Basket work, work consisting
of plaited osiers or twigs. -- Basket worm
(Zoöl.), a lepidopterous insect of the genus
Thyridopteryx and allied genera, esp. T.
ephemeræformis. The larva makes and carries about a bag or
basket-like case of silk and twigs, which it afterwards hangs up to shelter
the pupa and wingless adult females.
Bas"ket, v. t. To put into a
basket. [R.]
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