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sewing with long, loose stitches to hold material in place until the final sewing.
bastings, the stitches taken or the threads used.
the act of moistening food while cooking, especially with stock or pan juices.
the liquid used in basting.
to sew with long, loose stitches, as in temporarily tacking together pieces of a garment while it is being made.
to moisten (meat or other food) while cooking, with drippings, butter, etc.
liquid used to moisten and flavor food during cooking:
a baste of sherry and pan juices.
to beat with a stick; thrash; cudgel.
to denounce or scold vigorously:
an editorial basting the candidate for irresponsible statements.
Contemporary Examples

Oxo basting Brush basting brushes have become rather a problem in recent years.
The 2012 Holiday Kitchen Gift Guide Megan McArdle December 12, 2012

Historical Examples

Stuff half a dozen sweet peppers, brown in oil, then put into a baking-pan and finish cooking, basting with hot water.
The Myrtle Reed Cook Book Myrtle Reed

They may he stuffed with force-meat and roasted, basting them with butter.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches Eliza Leslie

Place in a hot oven and bake for forty minutes, basting frequently with one-half cupful of water and one-half cupful of vinegar.
Mrs. Wilson’s Cook Book Mary A. Wilson

When the first basting is dry, baste it again, and repeat this till the bird is nicely crusted over, and sufficiently done.
The Cook and Housekeeper’s Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, Mary Eaton

Shape into a large roll; bake hour, basting occasionally with oil or butter, and water.
The Laurel Health Cookery Evora Bucknum Perkins

Alice was cutting and pinning and basting seams at the other end of the table.
The Hound From The North Ridgwell Cullum

Both bacon and sausage fat and that from soup stock are useful for basting lean roasts, fish, or meat loaf.
Better Meals for Less Money Mary Green

For basting use the fat that comes from the turkey during cooking.
American Cookery Various

After basting this, you will sometimes find that the material needs a little more adjusting at the edge.
Make Your Own Hats Gene Allen Martin

noun
loose temporary stitches; tacking
sewing with such stitches
verb
(transitive) to sew with loose temporary stitches
verb
to moisten (meat) during cooking with hot fat and the juices produced
verb
(transitive) to beat thoroughly; thrash
v.

“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).

“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.

“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.)).

verb

To strike violently and repeatedly: he basted the dog after it misbehaved (1530s+)