What's the difference between basilisk and cockatrice?

Basilisk


Definition:

  • (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.
  • (n.) Any venomous or deadly thing.

Example Sentences:

Words possibly related to "cockatrice"