The Spanish word 'bache' (meaning 'pothole' or 'holding pen for sheep') comes from the French word 'bâche', which meant both 'puddle at low tide' and 'wicker basket'. The French term itself originated from the Gaulish word 'baskyo', meaning 'load' or 'burden'. The semantic evolution from a load or burden to a pothole makes intuitive sense, as potholes were burdensome obstacles for travelers. Similarly, the meaning of 'holding pen for sheep' relates to the basket-like containment aspect of the French 'bâche'.

While 'bache' is a relatively common word in Spanish, particularly in its meaning as 'pothole', there aren't many simpler or more common Spanish words that share its etymology. This is because it comes from a rather isolated etymological path through French and Gaulish.

While English doesn't have any common words directly related to 'bache', there is a specialized term 'bash' meaning a container or receptacle, which may be distantly related through the same Gaulish root. However, this connection is tentative and the English word is quite rare.