basilisk

1 of 2

noun

bas·​i·​lisk ˈba-sə-ˌlisk 

ˈba-zə-

1

: a legendary reptile with fatal breath and glance

2

: 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

Noun

Liam Hemsworth picks up the White Wolf's blades on season 4 of the Netflix series that also stars Laurence Fishburne, and the suspense is killing us — not like a basilisk, but maybe a drowner. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025

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

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

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

Rhymes for basilisk

• obelisk
• bisque
• brisk
• disc
• disk
• fisc
• fisk
• frisk
• risk
• whisk
• videodisc

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