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basilisk

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(bas′ə lisk′, baz′-)

noun

a mythical lizardlike monster with supposedly fatal breath and glance, fabled to have been hatched by a serpent from a cock's egg
any of a genus (Basiliscus) of iguanas with an erectile crest on the back and tail and an inflatable pouch on the head
an obsolete kind of cannon

Origin: ME < L basiliscus < Gr basiliskos, dim. of basileus, king

See basilisk in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A legendary serpent or dragon with lethal breath and glance.
Any of various tropical American lizards of the genus Basiliscus, characterized by a crest on the head, back, and tail and the ability to run on the hind legs.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French basilisc

Origin: , from Latin basiliscus

Origin: , from Greek basiliskos

Origin: , diminutive of basileus, king

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