(in classical legend) a serpent that could kill by its breath or glance
2.
any small arboreal semiaquatic lizard of the genus Basiliscus of tropical America: family Iguanidae (iguanas). The males have an inflatable head crest, used in display
3.
a 16th-century medium cannon, usually made of brass
Word origin
C14: from Latin basiliscus, from Greek basiliskos royal child, from basileus king
basilisk in American English
(ˈbæsəˌlɪsk; ˈbæzəˌlɪsk)
noun
1.
a mythical lizardlike monster with supposedly fatal breath and glance, fabled to have been hatched by a serpent from a cock's egg
see also cockatrice
2.
any of a genus (Basiliscus) of iguanas with an erectile crest on the back and tail and an inflatable pouch on the head
3.
an obsolete kind of cannon
Word origin
ME < L basiliscus < Gr basiliskos, dim. of basileus, king
Examples of 'basilisk' in a sentence
basilisk
When we'd walked on he'd said: `You must have heard of the basilisk.
Brierley, David SKORPION'S DEATH (2003)
`Abasio," the other rumbled, giving him a basilisk stare, cold as the walkers ' glance but more personal.
Tepper, Sheri S. A PLAGUE OF ANGELS (2003)
Leaning on her cane, Lady O fixed Stokes with her best basilisk stare.