Basilisk

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbæzɪlɪsk/

Definitions

1. A legendary reptile with a venomous bite or death-dealing glance, or a Central American lizard with a crest that can run on water
2. A mythical serpent whose gaze or bite was believed to kill, or a crested Central American lizard capable of running across water surfaces
3. A legendary creature said to slay with its lethal stare or venom, or a real tropical lizard known for its distinctive head crest and ability to sprint on water

Etymology: The basilisk was, in its original Greek form, a little king. "Basilískos" is a diminutive of "basileús," meaning "king," so the name literally meant "small king" or "minor chieftain." Its earliest recorded bearers were not mythical at all: the name seems to have been inspired by real snakes, likely cobras whose hoods or head markings suggested a crown. The creature's legendary deadly gaze may trace back to the spitting cobra, which can blind a target by spraying venom into its eyes from a distance. The word passed into Latin as "basiliscus," then into Old French as "basilique," and reached English in Middle English as "basilicke." It displaced the native Old English term "fāgwyrm," meaning something like "variegated serpent," which had been the English name for such a creature before the Greek word took over.

Synonyms: mythical creature, dragon, serpent, monster, beast