basilisk
(ˈbæzɪlɪsk, ˈbæs-)
Forms: α. 4– basilisk; 5–7 basiliske, 6 (basseliskie), 6–7 basilisque, 7 -isck, basalisk, 8 basilisc. β. (unchanged L.) 4–7 basiliscus, 6 (basilicus). γ. (from Fr.) 5 basilique, basylyque, 6 -ike. δ. (from Sp.) 7 basilisco, -sko. See also basilicock.
[ad. L. basiliscus, a. Gr. βασιλίσκος a kinglet, a kind of serpent, the golden-crested wren, dim. of βασιλεύς king: see -isk. The Latin form was occas. used unchanged from 14th to 17th c.; Caxton, in 15th c., introduced forms after Fr. basilique, now basilic; and in 17th c., basilisco, -sko, after Sp., occur.]
1. A fabulous reptile, also called a cockatrice, alleged to be hatched by a serpent from a cock's egg; ancient authors stated that its hissing drove away all other serpents, and that its breath, and even its look, was fatal. [So called, says Pliny, from a spot, resembling a crown, on its head; mediæval authors furnished it with ‘a certain combe or coronet.’]
| α a 1300 E.E. Psalter xci. 13 Oure aspide and basilisk saltou ga. c 1400 Mandeville xxviii. 285 Thei slen him anon with the beholdynge, as dothe the Basilisk. 1599 Porter Angry Wom. Abingd. (1841) 121 O, that it were the basseliskies fell eye, To poyson thee! 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. i. ii. 389 Make me not sighted like the Basilisque. 1657 Phys. Dict., Basilisk..kills a man with its very sight (as some say) but by its breath infallibly: it's about a foot long, with a black and yellow skin, and fiery red eyes. 1712 Pope Messiah 82 The smiling infant in his hand shall take The crested basilisk and speckled snake. 1847 Ld. Lindsay Chr. Art I. Introd. 147 The abbot..cried, ‘Lord, either I must die, or this basilisk!’ And instantly the basilisk died. |
| β 1387 Trevisa Higden Rolls Ser. I. 159 Basiliscus is kyng of serpentes þat wiþ smyl and siȝt sleeþ beestes. 1536 Latimer 2nd Serm. bef. Convoc. i. 45 To do hurt, more than either aspis or basiliscus. 1609 Bible (Douay) Isa. xxx. 6 The viper, and the flying basiliscus. |
| γ 1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W.) ii. 218 a/2 He founde in his waye a grete serpente basylyque. 1530 Palsgr. 196/2 Basylike serpent, basilisque. |
| δ 1655 Jennings Elise 57 He loses his countenance at the aspect of the Basilisco, whose sight kills him. |
2. fig. Often
attrib.| α 1549 Cheke Hurt Sedit. (1641) 42 But what is a loyterer? A sucker of Honie..a Basiliske of the Common⁓wealth. a 1789 Burney Hist. Mus. I. viii. 123 Satire..becomes a basilisk in the hands of a man..who employs it to blast the reputation of another. 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. ii. vi, That Basilisk-glance of the barouche-and-four. |
| γ 1475 Caxton Jason 45 Certes madame youre eyen basilique haue hurte me unto the deth. |
3. transf. A large cannon, generally made of brass, and throwing a shot of about 200 pounds weight. (Other pieces of ordnance of the time were named from venemous reptiles;
e.g. culverin,
serpentine,
slang, etc.
Cf. Shakes. Hen. V, v. ii. 17.)
| α 1577 Harrison England ii. xvi. (1877) 281 Basiliske [weigheth] 9000 pounds, eight inches and three quarters within the mouth. 1586 Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. iv. i, The basilisks, That, roaring, shake Damascus turrets down! 1613 Purchas Pilgr. I. v. vii. 408 Great Brazen Ordinance,..whereof foure Basiliskes were drawne (such was their weight) by so many hundred yokes of Oxen. 1861 E. A. Beaufort Egypt. Sepul. II. xxiv. 328 Stone shot lying about, some of the latter thrown by basilisks. |
| β 1549 Edw. VI. Lit. Rem. (1858) 250 The pecis of new conquest, and 2 basilicus, 2 demy canons, etc. |
| δ 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. xiv. 70 A Basilisco. Height [= bore] in Inches, 5. Weight in Pounds, 4000. Shot, Pounds, 151/4. Powder, Pounds, 10. 1644 in Rushworth Hist. Coll. iii. II. 701 The Rebels Train of Artillery..amongst which was the great Basilisco of Dover. |
4. Zool. A small American lizard of the family Iguanidæ, having on the top of its head a hollow crest which can be inflated at will.
| 1813 Shelley Q. Mab viii. 86 The green and golden basilisk. 1847 Carpenter Zool. §495 The Mitred Basilisk is an inhabitant of Guiana, Martinique, etc... It swims with great address by means of the lateral motions of its finny tail. |
† 5. Ornith. Obs. name of the Golden-crested Wren or Kinglet (
Regulus cristatus). (So in
Gr.)
| β 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp., Basiliscus. |
† 6. Astr. Obs. name of the star Regulus, in Leo.
| 1551 Recorde Cast. Knowl. (1556) 266 The Basilyske or Kyngely starre. 1727–51 in Chambers Cycl. |
7. Comb. basilisco-proof,
a., proof against eyes, even those of a basilisk; unabashed, shameless.
| 1649 Lanc. Tracts Civ. War (1844) 236 Though your brows be Basilisco-proof, yet you could be content I should end this language. |