n. [ Cf. F. basile and E. Bezel. ] The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a plane, is ground. Grier. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Basiled (&unr_;); p. pr. & vb. n. Basiling. ] To grind or form the edge of to an angle. Moxon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. basilic, fr. L. basilicus royal, Gr. basiliko`s fr. basiley`s king. ] (Bot.) The name given to several aromatic herbs of the Mint family, but chiefly to the common or sweet basil (Ocymum basilicum), and the bush basil, or lesser basil (Ocymum minimum), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name is also given to several kinds of mountain mint (Pycnanthemum). [ 1913 Webster ]

Basil thyme, a name given to the fragrant herbs Calamintha Acinos and Calamintha Nepeta. --
Wild basil, a plant (Calamintha clinopodium) of the Mint family. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Corrupt. from E. basan, F. basane, LL. basanium, bazana, fr. Ar. bithāna, prop., lining. ] The skin of a sheep tanned with bark. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ F. basilaire, fr. L. basis. See Base, n. ] 1. Relating to, or situated at, the base. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Lower; inferior; applied to impulses or springs of action. [ R. ] “Basilar instincts.” H. W. Beecher. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a ruler of the eastern Roman Empire. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. basilique. ] Basilica. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Basilicas sometimes Basilicæ [ L. basilica, Gr. basilikh` (sc. o'iki`a or stoa` fr. basiliko`s royal, fr. basiley`s king. ] 1. Originally, the palace of a king; but afterward, an apartment provided in the houses of persons of importance, where assemblies were held for dispensing justice; and hence, any large hall used for this purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) (a) A building used by the Romans as a place of public meeting, with court rooms, etc., attached. (b) A church building of the earlier centuries of Christianity, the plan of which was taken from the basilica of the Romans. The name is still applied to some churches by way of honorary distinction. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A digest of the laws of Justinian, translated from the original Latin into Greek, by order of Basil I., in the ninth century. P. Cyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ See Basilica. ] 1. Royal; kingly; also, basilican. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) Pertaining to certain parts, anciently supposed to have a specially important function in the animal economy, as the middle vein of the right arm. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of, relating to, or resembling, a basilica; basilical. [ 1913 Webster ]

There can be no doubt that the first churches in Constantinople were in the basilican form. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. basilicoc. ] The basilisk. [ Obs. ] Chaucer [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. basilicon, Gr. basiliko`n neut. of basiliko`s: cf. F. basilicon. See Basilica. ] (Med.) An ointment composed of wax, pitch, resin, and olive oil, lard, or other fatty substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. basiliscus, Gr. basili`skos little king, kind of serpent, dim. of basiley`s king; -- so named from some prominences on the head resembling a crown. ] 1. A fabulous serpent, or dragon. The ancients alleged that its hissing would drive away all other serpents, and that its breath, and even its look, was fatal. See Cockatrice. [ 1913 Webster ]

Make me not sighted like the basilisk. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A lizard of the genus Basiliscus, belonging to the family Iguanidæ. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This genus is remarkable for a membranous bag rising above the occiput, which can be filled with air at pleasure; also for an elevated crest along the back, that can be raised or depressed at will. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mil.) A large piece of ordnance, so called from its supposed resemblance to the serpent of that name, or from its size. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]