▪ I. basil1 Herb.
(ˈbæzɪl)
Forms: 5 (basilicon), basile, 6 basyle, -yll, bazil, bassel, 6–7 basill, 6– basil.
[a. OF. basile, ad. L. basilisca, f. basiliscus basilisk: the Gr. name of the plant was βασιλικὸν ‘royal,’ whence the botanical specific name basilicum, perhaps because the herb was used ‘in some royal unguent, bath, or medicine’ (Prior). In Lat. this seems to have been confused with basiliscus, on the supposition that it was an antidote to the basilisk's venom: in OF., basile, basilicoq, basilique, and in mod.F., basilic are applied both to the serpent and the plant.]
1. Popular name of a genus (Ocymum, family Labiatæ) of aromatic, shrubby plants, with flowers arranged in whorled racemes, widely dispersed in tropical and sub-tropical countries. The best-known species are the culinary herbs, Common or Sweet Basil (O. basilicum) and Bush or Lesser Basil (O. minimum), the leaves of which are used for seasoning soups and made dishes.
| [c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. ii. 201 Basilicon, radish and rucul stronge.] 1481 Caxton Tulle of Old Age, Violettys, rosemarynes, majorons, gylofres, basiles. 1562 Turner Herbal ii. 66 a, Basil..is good for the stryking of a se dragon. 1573 Tusser Husb. xlii. (1878) 95 Bassel, fine and busht, sowe in May. 1586 Cogan Haven Health xxxvi. (1612) 50 A certaine Italian, by often smelling to Basill, had a Scorpion bred in his braine. 1627 H. Burton Baiting Pope's Bull Ep. Ded. 26 Basil (the Embleme of the Throne established by mercy) which being gently stroked on the hand, yeelds a pleasant smell, but crushed hard vpon it, vnsauory. 1725 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Sallet, Basil imparts a grateful Flavour if not too strong. 1861 Delamer Kitch. Gard. 122 Sweet basil..is, as its name imports, one of the royalties among sweet herbs. |
2. Used as a book-name for other plants: e.g. Wild Basil (Calamintha Acinos, Lyte, C. Clinopodium, Benth.), Field or Cow Basil (Saponaria Vaccaria, Lyte); also Basil-balm, -thyme (Calamintha Acinos).
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens 239 Wilde Basill hath square hearie stemmes, beset with small leaues, much lyke to the leaues of Bushe Basill. Ibid. 241 Of Vaccaria, or Cow Basill. 1597 Gerard Herball ii. ccxxiii. 675 The wilde Basil or Acynos. 1640 Parkinson Theat. Bot. 19 Basil-thyme..because the smell thereof is so excellent, that it is fit for a king's house. |
▪ II. † ˈbasil2 Obs. rare—1.
In 6 bassil.
[a. OF. basile basilisk: see prec.]
1. = basilisk 3.
| c 1565 R. Lindsay Chron. Scot. (1728) 108 She bare many cannons..with three great bassils. |
† 2. An ‘iron’ or fetter fastened round the ankle of a prisoner. Obs. (Perhaps a distinct word.)
| 1592 Greene Art Conny Catch. ii. 31 Clap a strong paire of bolts on his heeles, and a basill of 28. pound weight. 1755 Mem. Capt. P. Drake I. xiii. 106 One of my Irons taken off..only one of the Bassils, which did not weigh above two Pounds out of thirty. 1865 Sala in N. & Q. Ser. iii. VIII. 369/2 The iron ring or fetter which English convicts were wont to wear round one ankle was called a Basil. |
▪ III. basil3, bazil
(ˈbæzɪl)
[App. an Eng. corruption of Fr. basane: see basan.]
Sheepskin tanned in bark; distinguished from roan, which is tanned in sumach. Often attrib.
| 1674 Guidott Observ. Bath. in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) IV. 130 The water happened..to fall upon a Bazil-skin I sometimes use. 1697 Lond. Gaz. No. 3285/4 All Tanners, Bazil Tanners, Curriers. 1755 Johnson, Basil, the skin of a sheep tanned. This is I believe more properly written basen. 1794 W. Felton Carriages (1801) I. 215 An inferior leather..called bazil leather..tears almost like paper. 1854 Mayhew Lond. Labour III. 419 (Hoppe) Each sleeper has for covering a large basil such as cobblers use for aprons. |
▪ IV. basil, n.4 and v.
corrupt form of bezel.