[f. BASTE v.2 + -ING1.]
1. The action of moistening a roasting joint with melted butter, gravy, etc.; also fig. and attrib.
1530. Palsgr., 196/2. Bastyng of meate, bastiment.
1550. Crowley, Epigr., 365. The tonge must have bastynge, it will the better wagge.
1822. Kitchiner, Cook’s Orac., 187. Put a little bit of butter into your basting-ladle.
b. The material used for this purpose.
1615. Markham, Eng. Housew. (1660), 69. To know the best bastings for meat, which is sweet Butter, sweet Oyl, etc.
2. Candle-making. The process of pouring melted wax from a ladle over the wicks.
c. 1865. Letheby, in Circ. Sc., I. 94/1. The operations of basting and rolling are repeated as often as necessary.
1879. G. Gladstone, in Cassell’s Techn. Educ., II. 75/2. Wax candles are … made by another process, which is termed basting.
