Bot. [mod.L.; named after Fernando Bassi, an Italian botanist of the 18th century.] A genus of tropical or subtropical trees (N.O. Sapotaceæ), from the seeds of which a butter-like oil is pressed. Hence Bassic a.
1863. Watts, Dict. Chem., I. 519. Bassic Acid is identical in composition and properties with stearic acid.
c. 1865. Letheby, in Circ. Sc., I. 95/1. The solid fats obtained from three species of Bassia indigenous to India.
