Obs. exc. Hist. Also 6–7 baise, 7 bass. [app. an Eng. application of BASE sb.1 ‘bottom, lower part’ to these articles of dress.]
I. sing.
1. ? The housing of a horse.
1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., an. 1 (R.). The basses and bardes of their horse were grene sattyn. Ibid., an. 2 (R.). Their basses and trappers of clothe of gold, euery of them his name embroudered on hys basse and trapper.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., III. 825/1. The king had a base and a trapper of purple velvet.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 36. Caparisons and steeds; Bases and tinsel Trappings.
II. pl. bases (cf. skirts).
2. A plaited skirt, of cloth, velvet, or rich brocade, appended to the doublet, and reaching from the waist to the knee, common in the Tudor period; also an imitation of this in mailed armor.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia, III. 285. His bases which he ware so long as they came almost to his ankle.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. v. 20. An apron white, Instead of curiets and bases fit for fight.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., XII. lxix. (1612), 291. The Taishes, Cushies, and the Graues, Staffe, Pensell, Baises.
1639. J. Aston, Iter Boreale, Add. MS. B. M. 28566, lf. 25 b. A paire of bases of Plad and stockings of ye same.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxix. His bases and the foot-cloth of his hobbyhorse dropping water.
3. The skirt of a woman’s outer petticoat or robe.
1591. Harington, Orl. Fur., XXXII. xlvii. The collour of her bases was almost Like to the falling whitish leaves.
1672. Jordan, Lond. Tri., in Heath, Grocers’ Comp. (1869), 496. A short Petticoat or Bases of Silver, fringed with Gold.
1697. C’tess. D’Aunoy’s Trav. (1706), 125. She had Basses all of Flowers of Point de Spain in Silk and Gold.
4. An apron.
1613. Marston, Insatiate C’tess, II. i. Wks. 1887, III. 153 (in Webster). Ha’ made them look for all the world like bakers in their linen bases and mealy vizards, new come from boulting.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. ii. 769. [The butcher] With gauntlet blue and bases white.
