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.
Basilica
(Ba*sil"i*ca) 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.
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.
Basilica
(Ba*sil"i*ca), 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.
Basilican
(Ba*sil"i*can) a. Of, relating to, or resembling, a basilica; basilical.
There can be no doubt that the first churches in Constantinople were in the basilican form.
Milman.
Basilicok
(Ba*sil"i*cok) n. [OF. basilicoc.] The basilisk. [Obs.] Chaucer
Basilicon
(||Ba*sil"i*con) 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.
Basilisk
(Bas"i*lisk) n. [L. basiliscus, Gr. basiliskos little king, kind of serpent, dim. of basileys 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.
Make me not sighted like the basilisk.
Shak.
2. (Zoöl.) A lizard of the genus Basiliscus, belonging to the family Iguanidæ.
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.
3. (Mil.) A large piece of ordnance, so called from its supposed resemblance to the serpent of that
name, or from its size. [Obs.]
Basin
(Ba"sin) n. [OF. bacin, F. bassin, LL. bacchinus, fr. bacca a water vessel, fr. L. bacca berry,
in allusion to the round shape; or perh. fr. Celtic. Cf. Bac.]
1. A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for washing, and for various other uses.
2. The quantity contained in a basin.
3. A hollow vessel, of various forms and materials, used in the arts or manufactures, as that used by
glass grinders for forming concave glasses, by hatters for molding a hat into shape, etc.
4. A hollow place containing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, a little bay. Pope
5. (Physical Geog.) (a) A circular or oval valley, or depression of the surface of the ground, the lowest
part of which is generally occupied by a lake, or traversed by a river. (b) The entire tract of country
drained by a river, or sloping towards a sea or lake.
