First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1basilisk
noun bas·i·lisk \ˈba-sə-ˌlisk, ˈba-zə-\
in stories and legends : a reptile that can kill people by breathing on them or looking at them
Full Definition of BASILISK
1
: a legendary reptile with fatal breath and glance
2
: any of several crested tropical American lizards (genus Basiliscus of the family Iguanidae) related to the iguanas and noted for their ability to run on their hind legs
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Origin of BASILISK
Middle English, from Latin basiliscus, from Greek basiliskos, from diminutive of basileus
Rhymes with BASILISK
2basilisk
adjective
Definition of BASILISK
: suggesting a basilisk : baleful, spellbinding <the eyes … with all their blaze of basilisk horror — Bram Stoker>
First Known Use of BASILISK
1821
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