Bas"il (băz"&ibreve;l), n. [Corrupt. from E. basan, F. basane, LL.
basanium, bazana, fr. Ar.
bithāna, prop., lining.]
The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.
Bas"il , n. [F. basilic, fr. L. basilicus royal, Gr.
basiliko`s fr. basiley`s king.]
(Bot.) The name given to
several aromatic herbs
of the Mint
family, but chiefly to the common or
sweet basil (Ocymum
basilicum), and the bush basil, or lesser basil (O. minimum), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name is also given to
several kinds of mountain mint
(Pycnanthemum).
Basil thyme, a name given to
the fragrant herbs
Calamintha Acinos and C.
Nepeta. -- Wild
basil, a plant (Calamintha clinopodium) of the Mint family.
Bas"il , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Basiled (&?;);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Basiling.]
To grind or form
the edge of
to an angle. Moxon.
Bas"il (băz"&ibreve;l), n. [Cf. F. basile and E. Bezel.]
The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a plane, is ground. Grier.
Hear it pronounced