Basques

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of fitted bodice or waist-length garment often worn under dresses or blouses
2. A traditional region in southwestern France and northeastern Spain known for its unique culture and language
3. The people from this region, characterized by their distinct identity and rich history

Etymology: The English plural comes from the French "basque", which in turn descends from the Latin "Vasco", the name the Romans gave to the people of the western Pyrenees. The Latin name passed into the Gascon dialect of the region as "Basc", and French adopted that form, so the English word carries an outsider's name for the people rather than the one they use among themselves. The Basques call their language "euskara" and their own country "Euskal Herria", names that have no connection to "Vasco". Scholars still debate the exact origin of the Latin name, and the link between the Roman "Vascones" and the modern people is well established, but the older name has no verified meaning.

Synonyms: waistcoats