Basque

noun

ˈbask How to pronounce Basque (audio)
ˈbäsk
1
: a member of a people inhabiting the western Pyrenees on the Bay of Biscay
2
: the language of the Basques of unknown relationship
3
not capitalized : a tight-fitting bodice for women
Basque adjective

Examples of Basque in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web One student who was helping take photos and videos and noting GPS locations revealed that her father came to the U.S. from the Basque Country to work as a sheepherder. Cheryl Oestreicher, The Conversation, 20 June 2024 How about all of your scenes with the Swans at La Côte Basque? Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2024 The Basque Country and the Canary Islands are boosting their regional film businesses, building on some of the world’s most attractive tax advantages. Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 15 May 2024 While Biarritz is a destination in its own right, the city is best appreciated in the larger context of the surrounding Basque Coast — the brightest star in a constellation of sparkling towns and villages, many still deeply rooted in ancient Basque culture. David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2024 Between 2008 and 2015, The Basque Country’s industrial sector lost 64,000 jobs as companies moved their manufacturing abroad and others shut down. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 May 2024 In parts of the Basque Country, incentives offer 35 to 60 percent in tax credits on up to 50 to 60 percent of production cost estimates, depending on project characteristics. Jennifer Green, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 The data behind the FAO report, and others like it, answers the wrong question, says ecologist Pablo Manzano, a fellow and rangeland expert at Spain’s Basque Centre for Climate Change. Michael Benanav, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Apr. 2024 Outdoor enthusiasts will also find plenty to do in Spain, including exploring the hiking trails of the Pyrenees, surfing the northern coast of Basque Country, and kiteboarding in Tarifa. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Basque.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, ultimately from Latin Vasco member of a group of ancient peoples inhabiting the present Basque country

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Basque was in 1653

Dictionary Entries Near Basque

Cite this Entry

“Basque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Basque. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.

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