- baste (v.1)
- "sew together loosely," c.1400, from Old French bastir "build, construct, sew up (a garment), baste, make, prepare, arrange" (12c., Modern French bâtir "to build"), probably from a Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *bastjan "join together with bast" (cf. Old High German besten; see bast).
- baste (v.2)
- "to soak in gravy, moisten," late 14c., of unknown origin, possibly from Old French basser "to moisten, soak," from bassin "basin" (see basin). Related: Basted; basting.
- baste (v.3)
- "beat, thrash," 1530s, perhaps from the cookery sense of baste (v.2) or from some Scandinavian source (e.g. Swedish basa "to beat, flog," bösta "to thump") akin to Old Norse beysta "to beat," and related to Old English beatan (see beat (v.)).