Thanks also open mike (Laurel) for the information about the other usages of the word "basco/bosco".

Laurel, the information that you shared about "Bosque" being Spanish for "woods" fits in with the Latin [?] meaning of "bosk," a thicket, as given in one of those links I posted in my second comment in this thread.

I'm wondering if anyone knows the etymology of "Basque" as used as a referent for that population. Could that group referent have something to do with "the woods"?

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Returning to another facet of this thread, I'd love to know if the chocolate syrup "Bosco" and its jingle, and parody was/is familiar to any people who don't live in the USA.