basilisk

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"You have said that it is false that the basilisk is the king of serpents, under the name of cockatrice Very reverend sir," said Ursus, "so little did I desire to insult the basilisk that I have given out as certain that it has a man's head Be it so," replied Minos severely; "but you added that Poerius had seen one with the head of a falcon.

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Definitions (11)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun A legendary serpent or dragon with lethal breath and glance.
  2. noun Any of various tropical American lizards of the genus Basiliscus, characterized by a crest on the head, back, and tail and the ability to run on the hind legs.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (5)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

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Examples (50)

  • Many had turned savage, more beast than man Why did the tribes submit to them If a village or tribe refused, the basilisk was sent to them in the night and all were killed. —  Witch Gate.htm
  • Instead, after the celebrations of his passage to manhood, Shiron left the village and walked to where the basilisk was rooted. —  Witch Gate.htm
  • First to be a basilisk, then to die Trent caught Bink's look of apprehension. —  A Spell for Chameleon
  • "It seems the stare of the basilisk is overrated," Fanchon said. —  A Spell for Chameleon
  • As he spoke he realized something that had not quite surfaced before: the basilisk was a magical creature that could do magic. —  A Spell for Chameleon
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Old French basilisc, from Latin basiliscus, from Greek basiliskos, diminutive of basileus, king.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Also, until recently, as L., basiliscus; from Middle English basilisk (cf. also basilicok and F. basilic), from Latin basiliscus, from Greek βασιλίσ, σ1κος, a little king, a kinglet (bird), also a kind of serpent, so named from a white spot resembling a crown on the head; diminutive of βασιλεύς, a king.
 

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/ˈbæsɪlɪsk/
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