| 释义 |
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.’]
αa1300E.E. Psalter xci. 13 Oure aspide and basilisk saltou ga. c1400Mandeville xxviii. 285 Thei slen him anon with the beholdynge, as dothe the Basilisk. 1599Porter Angry Wom. Abingd. (1841) 121 O, that it were the basseliskies fell eye, To poyson thee! 1611Shakes. Wint. T. i. ii. 389 Make me not sighted like the Basilisque. 1657Phys. 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. 1712Pope Messiah 82 The smiling infant in his hand shall take The crested basilisk and speckled snake. 1847Ld. Lindsay Chr. Art I. Introd. 147 The abbot..cried, ‘Lord, either I must die, or this basilisk!’ And instantly the basilisk died.
β1387Trevisa Higden Rolls Ser. I. 159 Basiliscus is kyng of serpentes þat wiþ smyl and siȝt sleeþ beestes. 1536Latimer 2nd Serm. bef. Convoc. i. 45 To do hurt, more than either aspis or basiliscus. 1609Bible (Douay) Isa. xxx. 6 The viper, and the flying basiliscus.
γ1491Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W.) ii. 218 a/2 He founde in his waye a grete serpente basylyque. 1530Palsgr. 196/2 Basylike serpent, basilisque.
δ1655Jennings Elise 57 He loses his countenance at the aspect of the Basilisco, whose sight kills him.
2. fig. Often attrib.
α1549Cheke Hurt Sedit. (1641) 42 But what is a loyterer? A sucker of Honie..a Basiliske of the Common⁓wealth. a1789Burney Hist. Mus. I. viii. 123 Satire..becomes a basilisk in the hands of a man..who employs it to blast the reputation of another. 1831Carlyle Sart. Res. ii. vi, That Basilisk-glance of the barouche-and-four.
γ1475Caxton 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.)
α1577Harrison England ii. xvi. (1877) 281 Basiliske [weigheth] 9000 pounds, eight inches and three quarters within the mouth. 1586Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. iv. i, The basilisks, That, roaring, shake Damascus turrets down! 1613Purchas Pilgr. I. v. vii. 408 Great Brazen Ordinance,..whereof foure Basiliskes were drawne (such was their weight) by so many hundred yokes of Oxen. 1861E. A. Beaufort Egypt. Sepul. II. xxiv. 328 Stone shot lying about, some of the latter thrown by basilisks.
β1549Edw. VI. Lit. Rem. (1858) 250 The pecis of new conquest, and 2 basilicus, 2 demy canons, etc.
δ1627Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. xiv. 70 A Basilisco. Height [= bore] in Inches, 5. Weight in Pounds, 4000. Shot, Pounds, 151/4. Powder, Pounds, 10. 1644in 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.
1813Shelley Q. Mab viii. 86 The green and golden basilisk. 1847Carpenter 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.)
β1753Chambers Cycl. Supp., Basiliscus.
†6. Astr. Obs. name of the star Regulus, in Leo.
1551Recorde Cast. Knowl. (1556) 266 The Basilyske or Kyngely starre. 1727–51in Chambers Cycl.
7. Comb. basilisco-proof, a., proof against eyes, even those of a basilisk; unabashed, shameless.
1649Lanc. Tracts Civ. War (1844) 236 Though your brows be Basilisco-proof, yet you could be content I should end this language. |