basilisk
A mythical snake-like dragon, so venomous that even its gaze is deadlyA mythical snake-like dragon, so venomous that even its gaze is deadly.
» The basilisk lizard is able to run on the surface of the water without sinking.
Meaning
5 sensesA mythical snake-like dragon, so venomous that even its gaze is deadly.
the deadly look of the basilisk
Basilisk
васили́скvasilísk
василі́скvasylísk
A type of dragon used in heraldry.
Any tree-dwelling lizard of the genus Basiliscus: the basilisk lizard.
васили́скvasilísk
василі́скvasylísk
A type of large brass cannon.
васили́скvasilísk
ancient brass cannon
An infohazard or cognitohazard, especially a Langford's basilisk.
Examples
2 sentencesThe basilisk lizard is able to run on the surface of the water without sinking.
Basilisks are mythological creatures.
ruВасилиски — мифические существа.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English basilicke, borrowed from Old French basilique, from Latin basiliscus,From Middle English basilicke, borrowed from Old French basilique, from Latin basiliscus, from Ancient Greek βασιλίσκος (basilískos, literally “minor king or chieftain”), from βασιλεύς (basileús, “king”), possibly based on descriptions or rare encounters with different types of cobra which have crown-like patterns on their head; the 'deadly gaze' may have been from the spitting cobra's ability to spit venom into the eyes of predators or prey from a distance. The infohazard sense is a figurative reference to the deadly gaze of the mythical creature. Displaced native Old English fāgwyrm.
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