n. The strong inner fibrous bark of various trees, especially of species of linden (Tilia), of which the Russia matting of commerce is made.n. In botany, a tissue, otherwise called the liber or phloëm, formed of or containing very narrow, long, and tough flexible cells, called bast-cells or bast-fibers, and occurring most abundantly in the inner bark of dicotyledons.n. A rope or cord made of the inner bark of the lime-tree, or the bark made into ropes or mats. See bass, 3.n. Bastardy.Bastard; illegitimate.n. A name sometimes given to the portion of raw-silk fiber which envelops the fibroin: virtually the same as the sericin.n. A trade-name of the piassava-fiber. See bast-palm, piassava, and bass, 4.