The place-name Baskin/Baiscín in Dublin is well attested in English sources, but the underlying meaning remains unclear. It could possibly be a diminutive form of baisc “heap”, in reference to the small hill in this townland (cf. Baskin Hill [House] as depicted on the OS 6ʺ map). In this regard, it is quite interesting to note that a hill is also situated in the likewise-named Baskin in County Westmeath. However, research has not been completed on the townlands of that county and the underlying Irish form of Baskin in Westmeath therefore remains uncertain at this juncture. Moreover, the word baisc “heap” is not clearly attested in other toponyms which further renders the suggested explanation of Baiscín problematic. Given this situation, it is worth comparing the word baiscín with baiscneach “thorny, tree-like” (see Irish-English Dictionary, P. Dinneen), but there is no clear relationship between the two.