basset
UK[ˈbæsɪt]US[ˈbæsɪt]
n
A breed of dog with a long body, short legs, and long, drooping ears.
n
An outcrop of rock, especially one of strata inclined from the horizontal.
Etymology
The word 'basset' entered English in the early 17th century from the French 'basset', which is the diminutive form of 'bas', meaning 'low'. This French root 'bas' itself derives from the Late Latin 'bassus', meaning 'thick, low, short'. The semantic logic is beautifully direct: the 'basset hound' is named for its characteristically low, short stature. The geological sense, referring to a low outcrop or the emergence of strata at the surface, follows the same core concept of lowness or being set low.
Analysis
The word 'basset' is a simplex loanword from French. It is not productively formed from smaller, meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The basset hound followed the scent with its nose close to the ground.
We saw a clear basset of coal in the cliff face.
His basset, with its sad eyes and long ears, is a beloved family pet.