‖n. [ It., fr. LL. bassus. See Base, a. ] (Mus.) (a) The bass or lowest part; as, to sing basso. (b) One who sings the lowest part. (c) The double bass, or contrabasso. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖Basso continuo [ It., bass continued. ] (Mus.) A bass part written out continuously, while the other parts of the harmony are indicated by figures attached to the bass; continued bass. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A hassock. See 2d Bass, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. basson, fr. basse bass; or perh. fr. bas son low sound. See Bass a part in music. ] (Mus.) A wind instrument of the double reed kind, furnished with holes, which are stopped by the fingers, and by keys, as in flutes. It forms the natural bass to the oboe, clarinet, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Its compass comprehends three octaves. For convenience of carriage it is divided into two parts; whence it is also called a fagot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A performer on the bassoon. Busby. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ It. basso-rilievo. ] Same as Bas-relief. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. bassorine. ] (Chem.) A constituent part of a species of gum from Bassora, as also of gum tragacanth and some gum resins. It is one of the amyloses. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. (Zoöl.) A species of armadillo of the genus Xenurus (Xenurus unicinctus and Xenurus hispidus); the tatouay. [ Written also kabassou. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. contrabasso. ] (Mus.) The largest kind of bass viol. See Violone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See Cabassou. [ 1913 Webster ]