The tree - Tilia spp - also known as Lime or Linden.
How is the other common name - Basswood - pronounced?
Like the fish, not the instrument.
That, or we mispronounced it 32 years ago when we sang Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, but I guess that’s entirely possible.
The American Heritage Dictionary says a long “a” like the musical voicing/instrument. The “Dictionary.com unabridged” (work with me here, I misplaced my old Webster unabridged) says in the etymology part it’s compound (amazing!) of “Bass” (the low in pitch musical definition) and “wood.” Pointing to it being said Beyswood.
Another vote for always hearing it like the fish.
Around here it’s the fish name.
Bass is the kind of wood I use in my art. Bass is my singing voice. They are not pronounced the same.
I have been using the wood in various ways for all my working life and have never heard it refered to as Bayeswood.
Bass like the fish - from a horticulturalist who planted tons of them over the years!
Short “a” here as well.
Mangetout, is it ever called “basswood” in the UK? I usually see it as “lime” in books. Of course, our Tilia is not entirely the same as your Tilia (I think), but they’re pretty darn close.
To make matters even more confusing, one of my bass guitars is made out of basswood.
It’s nearly always ‘Lime’ here - very occasionally ‘Linden’, although I can only recall coming across that in street names.
Reason for asking is that I used Lime woodchips for hot-smoking a whole salmon and I documented it on video for my website - it was probably unnecessary, but I wanted to mention other names for the wood for international viewers (if any).
Thanks for all the replies, folks.
Merriam-Webster Tenth Collegiate gives only the short-a pronounciation which, to judge by this thread, is the common usage.
May I take a shot at making that rhyme?
No, it ain’t Keats. But at least I’m not the grapist.
It’s *spelled * “Basswood”, but it’s *pronounced * “throatwabler-mangrove”.
Which is curious, as I intended to use it in the construction of my luxury yacht - to be named Raymond.
I don’t know how many adults will understand that reference anymore. In pronouncing that you forgot the rrrrrr in the warbler.
throatwarbler-mangrove
Now for something completely different.
It’s up to us adults to pass on our precious cultural heritage to the young. I can assure you that my progeny, teenagers the both of them, would understand the reference. *And * the Ministry of Silly Walks as well; so there.
And I did *not * “forget” the rrrrrr. I . . . um . . . was saving them up. Yeah, that’s it; that’s the ticket - I was saving them uuuuup . . .
I seriously think these landmarks of modern culture should be included in the school curriculum.
Allowing the phrases “Pinin’ for the fjords?”, “I’ve got nothing against your right leg…”, “It’s a dessert topping, it’s a floor wax”, “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition”, “four candles”, and others like that to pass above people’s heads, is the same as being nonplussed if they ask “Vincent Van who?”
Careful with the letter r; it’s important-- without it, your friends would become fiends.
Wow, that’s terrific basswood!