[ 'baz(ə)l , -zɪl ]
■ noun
1》 an aromatic plant of the mint family, native to tropical Asia, used as a culinary herb. [ Ocimum ~icum ( sweet ~ ) and other species.]
2》 (also wild ~ ) a European plant which grows in hedges and scrub. [ Clinopodium vulgare .]
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~e , via med. L. from Gk ~ikon , neut. of ~ikos (see ~ica ).