basto

Basto is a term used in several Iberian language contexts with different meanings. In the realm of playing cards, basto (singular) is the name for one of the four suits in traditional Spanish decks, the others being espadas (swords), copas (cups), and oros (coins). The Bastos suit is typically represented by club-like or cudgel imagery and appears in classic games such as Mus and Tute, which use a 40-card deck. The term reflects a historical association with wooden clubs or staffs.

In botanical and horticultural usage, basto can refer more generally to a base, stalk, or main stem of a plant. In some contexts the word denotes the part of a plant that supports a shoot or inflorescence, though the exact usage can vary by language and regional horticultural tradition. The term highlights the idea of a foundational or central stem within plant structures.

Basto also exists as a surname in Iberian-speaking regions, where it may be encountered in Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking communities. In addition to personal names, the term can appear in various toponymic and historical contexts, reflecting its long-standing linguistic presence in Romance languages.

Etymology generally traces basto to Romance roots related to the notion of a stick, staff, or base, with cognates across Spanish and Portuguese. The precise sense of the word is thus highly dependent on context, ranging from card games to botany and onomastics.