bas ‧ i ‧ lisk /ˈbæsəlɪsk, ˈbæsɪlɪsk, ˈbæz-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: basiliscus , from Greek , from basileus ; ⇨ ↑ basilica ]
an imaginary animal like a snake in ancient stories, supposed to be able to kill people by looking at them