basoche (Fr.), a tribunal for disputes between the clerks of the French parliament.

basso profondo (It.), a deep bass voice, or a person possessing such.

basta! (It.), enough! no more!

bastide (Fr.), a French country-house.

basto (Sp.), the ace of clubs in quadrille and ombre.

bât (Fr.), a pack-saddle—only in composition, as in bathorse, batman, batmoney, &c.

bâton ferré (Fr.), a staff shod with iron, an alpenstock.

battant, pl. battans (Fr.), the leaf of a table or door.

batterie de cuisine (Fr.), set of utensils for cooking.

battre la campagne (Fr.), to scour the country, to beat about the bush.