▪ I. basilic, a.
(bəˈsɪlɪk)
Forms: 6 basylyc, 7–8 basilick(e, 8– basilic.
[a. F. basilique (16th c.), ad. L. basilicus, a. Gr. βασιλικός royal, kingly, f. βασιλεύς king.]
1. Kingly, royal, sovereign. ? Obs. rare.
| 1728 Earbery tr. Burnet's St. Dead I. 13 In this world we see nothing except God's basilick justice. |
2. Phys. Specific epithet of the large vein of the arm starting from the elbow and discharging into the axillary vein. [So called from its supposed great importance; the right and left basilic veins were formerly thought to be in direct communication with the liver and spleen respectively.]
| 1541 R. Copland Guydon's Quest. Cyrurg., That party that was deuyded vnder the arme pyttes that goeth in to the inwarde party in descending appereth within the bought of the elbowe, and is called Basylyc. a 1670 Hacket Abp. Williams i. (1692) 88 As if he had prick'd the Court in the Basilick or Liver-vein. 1849–52 Todd Cycl. Anat. & Phys. IV. 1407/1 The basilic vein..ascends along the inner margin of the biceps muscle. |
▪ II. basilic, n. arch.
(ˈbæsɪlɪk)
[a. F. basilique, ad. L. basilica.]
1. = basilica 1.
| 1727–51 Chambers Cycl., Basilic or Basilica. 1811 J. Milner Eccl. Archit. Eng. ii. 12 The emperors gave up their palaces and courts of justice, called Basilics, for the service of religion. |
2. = basilica 2.
| 1703 Lond. Gaz. No. 3891/2 Considerable Damage to the Basilick, or Great Church of St. Peter. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp., Basilics were also little chapels built by the antient Franks over the tombs of their great men. 1840 Ld. Houghton in Blackw. Mag. XLVII. 29 Oh! never in high Roman basilic, Prime dome of art, or elder Lateran. |