(n.) 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.
(n.) A lizard of the genus Basiliscus, belonging to the family Iguanidae.
(n.) A large piece of ordnance, so called from its supposed resemblance to the serpent of that name, or from its size.
Example Sentences:
(1) And if he thinks he detects one lobbed in the guise of a question about his personal convictions, those black eyes petrify it mid-flight with a basilisk glower.
(2) But the west has become in their eyes, not a set of specific nations responsible for specific acts, but an almost mythical, all-encompassing monster, the modern version of the chimera or basilisk, the source of all manner of horror and dread.
Cockatrice
Definition:
(n.) A fabulous serpent whose breath and look were said to be fatal. See Basilisk.
(n.) A representation of this serpent. It has the head, wings, and legs of a bird, and tail of a serpent.
(n.) A venomous serpent which which cannot now be identified.