basilisk

1 of 2

noun

bas·i·lisk ˈba-sə-ˌlisk

ˈba-zə-

: a legendary reptile with fatal breath and glance

: any of several crested tropical American lizards (genus Basiliscus of the family Corytophanidae) related to the iguanas and noted for their ability to run on their hind legs

basilisk

2 of 2

adjective

: suggesting a basilisk : baleful, spellbinding

the eyes … with all their blaze of basilisk horror—

Bram Stoker

Did you know?

In Hellenic and Roman legend, a basilisk (also called a cockatrice) was a serpent-like creature capable of destroying other creatures by way of its deadly stare. The modern basilisk is a lizard that belongs to the family Iguanidae and supposedly resembles this fabled monster; it has a large, inflatable crest atop its head and is sometimes called a "Jesus Christ lizard" for its ability to run quickly across the surface of water. The use of "basilisk" as an adjective occurs most frequently in phrases such as "basilisk stare"; recalling the notorious gaze of the legendary basilisk, it describes the deep and piercing look of someone who is frightening or seductive.

Examples of basilisk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Unlike basilisk lizards or sailfin dragons, which have similarly large fins today, Dimetrodon’s crests weren’t flexible. —

Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2024 Scientists have studied the basilisk lizard and other water-traversing creatures, like the Western grebe, for decades, as Sharp outlines in her article. —

James Factora, Them, 24 July 2024 How ought one truss the chicken half of a half-chicken, half-snake basilisk? —

Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024 Its circular outline encloses the shape of a mythical creature: the basilisk. —

Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024 Experts said the badge depicts a basilisk dragon, which in ancient times was a mythological monster-like serpent known to kill its prey with just a look or a breath. —

Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024 Berry’s public image showcased a winning smile and a winking eye, whereas most reports of backstage meetings tended to emphasize a forbidding scowl and basilisk stare. —

Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023 The common basilisk lizard is known as the Jesus Christ lizard for its astounding ability to literally run on water. —

Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2010 Anti-lovebirds can choose to have the mealworms or crickets fed to a tawny frogmouth, spotted turtle, basilisk, cotton-top tamarin or black-tufted marmoset, wrote The Salisbury Daily Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. —

Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Latin basiliscus "kind of snake," borrowed from Greek basilískos "minor prince, kind of snake (presumably possessing a crown-like crest)," from basil-, base of basileús "king, prince" (of pre-Greek substratal origin) + -iskos, diminutive suffix

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of basilisk was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century