basilisk

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

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

More specifically, basilisks inhabit what are known as riparian environments: the literal interface between land and water. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2026

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

Brown basilisk: These 2-foot lizards are lanky and athletic, and have a leathery crest on their head and down their back. —Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 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

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

Word History

Etymology

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

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for basilisk

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

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