basilisk

• basilisc

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French basilique, from Latin basiliscus, from Ancient Greek βασιλίσκος (basilískos, “royal, imperial”), from βασιλεύς (basileús, “king”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈbæs.ɪ.lɪsk/, /ˈbæz.ɪ.lɪsk/

• Audio (US)

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basilisk (plural basilisks)

1. A mythical (and heraldic) snake-like dragon type, reputed to be so venomous that its gaze was deadly.

   The deadly look of the basilisk

2. (heraldry) A type of dragon used in heraldry.
3. A tree-dwelling type of lizard of the genus Basiliscus - the basilisk lizard
4. A type of large brass cannon.

basilisk (not comparable)

1. Suggesting a basilisk (snake-like dragon): baleful, spellbinding.
   • 1870, The British drama: illustrated, volume 4, page 997:

     Well, She is so basilisk ; there's no death in her eyes ...

   • 1884, M. L. O'Byrne, Ill-won Peerages, Or, An Unhallowed Union, page 126:

     her gaze became more basilisk in its expression, and her countenance bore some similitude to that of a handsome fiend

   • 2004, Witi Tame Ihimaera, Whanau II, page 167:

     He had never seen her quite like this, so basilisk, so frightening

From Middle Dutch basilisc, from Latin basiliscus, from Ancient Greek βασιλίσκος (basilískos)

• IPA^(key): /ˌbaː.siˈlɪsk/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ba‧si‧lisk
• Rhymes: -ɪsk

basilisk m (plural basilisken, diminutive basiliskje n)

1. a basilisk (mythological or heraldic monster, part serpent, part rooster)

   Synonyms: koningshagedis, koningsslang

2. (zoology) a basilisk, a tree-dwelling type of lizard of the genus Basiliscus

   Synonym: boomhagedis

• basilica
• basilicum
• basiliek