baster

Baster is a term with more than one meaning in English. The most common usage today refers to a kitchen tool used in cooking. A baster is designed to moisten meat and poultry during roasting or grilling. It typically consists of a narrow tube, either glass, stainless steel, or plastic, attached to a rubber bulb or pump at one end and a small nozzle at the other. Juices or marinades are drawn up through the tube and then squirting back onto the food helps keep it moist and add flavor. Variants include turkey basters and squeeze-bulb basters, and some models incorporate a stopper or stopper-and-syringe mechanism to control the flow.

In Namibia, Basters (singular Baster) refer to a historically mixed-heritage community of Afrikaans-speaking people and Khoisan ancestry. Basters have lived in central and southern Namibia since the 19th century and developed a distinct cultural identity within the region. The name is said to derive from a Dutch term for “bastard,” reflecting complex historical blends of descent; in contemporary usage it is often treated as a self-identifier rather than a slur. The Basters have organized social and political structures and have played a notable role in Namibian history and regional affairs, particularly in communities centered around towns such as Rehoboth.

The word baster can also appear as a surname or in other minor uses. In culinary contexts, it remains the primary association for most readers; in Southern African history, it denotes a specific ethnic community.