Ba*salt"ic (&?;), a. [Cf. F. basaltique.] Pertaining to basalt; formed of, or containing, basalt; as basaltic lava.
Ba*salt"i*form (&?;), a. [Basalt + -form.] In the form of basalt; columnar.
Ba*salt"oid (&?;), a. [Basalt + - oid.] Formed like basalt; basaltiform.
Bas"an (&?;), n. Same as Basil, a sheepskin.
Bas"a*nite (&?;), n. [L. basanites lapis, Gr. ba`sanos the touchstone: cf. F. basanite.] (Min.) 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.
||Bas`bleu" (&?;), n. [F., fr. bas stocking + bleu blue.] A bluestocking; a literary woman. [Somewhat derisive]
Bas"ci*net (&?;), n. [OE. bacinet, basnet, OF. bassinet, bacinet, F. bassinet, dim. of OF. bacin, F. bassin, a helmet in the form of a basin.] A light helmet, at first open, but later made with a visor. [Written also basinet, bassinet, basnet.]
Bas"cule (bs"kl), n. [F., a seesaw.] In mechanics, an apparatus on the principle of the seesaw, in which one end rises as the other falls.
Bascule bridge, a counterpoise or balanced drawbridge, which is opened by sinking the counterpoise and thus lifting the footway into the air.
Base (bs), a. [OE. bass, F. bas, low, fr. LL. bassus thick, fat, short, humble; cf. L. Bassus, a proper name, and W. bas shallow. Cf. Bass a part in music.] 1. Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs. [Archaic] Shak.