# What is the correct pronunciation of 'Basswood' **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 6, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555 "2008-02-06T18:15:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/1 "2008-02-06T18:15:23Z")
The tree - _Tilia spp_ - also known as Lime or Linden. How is the other common name - Basswood - pronounced? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/2 "2008-02-06T18:17:05Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/3 "2008-02-06T18:37:04Z")
The American Heritage Dictionary says a long “a” like the musical voicing/instrument. The “[Dictionary.com](http://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. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/4 "2008-02-06T18:58:53Z")
Another vote for always hearing it like the fish. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/5 "2008-02-06T19:20:08Z")
Around here it’s the fish name. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/6 "2008-02-06T23:40:59Z")
Bass is the kind of wood I use in my art. Bass is my singing voice. They are not pronounced the same. ---
**Author:** ![ulpilotrmh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f14d63/32.png) [@ulpilotrmh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ulpilotrmh)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/7 "2008-02-07T00:11:53Z")
[QUOTE=Quercus] Another vote for always hearing it like the fish. [/QUOTE] I have been using the wood in various ways for all my working life and have never heard it refered to as Bayeswood. ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/8 "2008-02-07T00:59:53Z")
Bass like the fish - from a horticulturalist who planted tons of them over the years! ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/9 "2008-02-07T01:22:22Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/10 "2008-02-07T01:32:17Z")
To make matters even more confusing, one of my bass guitars [is made out of basswood](http://www.phase42.net/images/rogue_04_big.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/11 "2008-02-08T15:38:12Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/12 "2008-02-08T16:04:38Z")
_Merriam-Webster Tenth Collegiate_ gives only the short-a pronounciation which, to judge by this thread, is the common usage. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/13 "2008-02-08T16:11:50Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] Bass is the kind of wood I use in my art. Bass is my singing voice. They are not pronounced the same. [/QUOTE] May I take a shot at making that rhyme? > [@](#): > > Bass is the wood > I use in my art. > Bass is my range > when singing my part. > Say them the same, > and you’ll break my heart. No, it ain’t Keats. But at least I’m not the grapist. ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/14 "2008-02-08T17:27:54Z")
It’s \*spelled \* “Basswood”, but it’s \*pronounced \* “throatwabler-mangrove”. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/15 "2008-02-08T19:12:53Z")
[QUOTE=Genghis Bob] It’s \*spelled \* “Basswood”, but it’s \*pronounced \* “throatwabler-mangrove”. [/QUOTE] Which is curious, as I intended to use it in the construction of my luxury yacht - to be named _Raymond_. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/16 "2008-02-08T19:19:26Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/17 "2008-02-08T19:25:33Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord] 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. [/QUOTE] 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 . . . ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/18 "2008-02-08T22:20:07Z")
[QUOTE=Genghis Bob] 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. [/QUOTE] 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?_” ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/19 "2008-02-08T22:23:59Z")
[QUOTE=Genghis Bob] 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 . . . [/QUOTE] Careful with the letter _r_; it’s important-- without it, your friends would become fiends. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555/20 "2008-02-08T22:55:26Z")
Wow, that’s terrific basswood! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronunciation-of-basswood/436555.md?page=2)