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. Maundev., xxviii. 285. Thei slen him anon with the beholdynge, as dothe the Basilisk.
1599. Porter, Angry Wom. Abingt. (1841), 121. O, that it were the basseliskies fell eye, To poyson thee!
1611. Shaks., 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 sleep 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 Commonwealth.
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. Shaks., 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. Miss 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 Rushw., 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.
