Herb. Forms: 5 (basilicon), basile, 6 basyle, -yll, bazil, bassel, 6–7 basill, 6– basil. [a. OF. basile, ad. L. basilisca, f. basiliscus BASILISK: the Gr. name of the plant was βασιλικόν ‘royal,’ whence the botanical specific name basilicum, perhaps because the herb was used ‘in some royal unguent, bath, or medicine’ (Prior). In Lat. this seems to have been confused with basiliscus, on the supposition that it was an antidote to the basilisk’s venom: in OF., basile, basilicoq, basilique, and in mod.F., basilic are applied both to the serpent and the plant.]
1. Popular name of a genus (Ocymum, N.O. Labiatæ) of aromatic, shrubby plants, with flowers arranged in whorled racemes, widely dispersed in tropical and sub-tropical countries. The best-known species are the culinary herbs, Common or Sweet Basil (O. basilicum) and Bush or Lesser Basil (O. minimum), the leaves of which are used for seasoning soups and made dishes.
[c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., II. 201. Basilicon, radish and rucul stronge.]
1481. Caxton, Tulle of Old Age. Violettys, rosemarynes, majorons, gylofres, basiles.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. 66 a. Basil … is good for the stryking of a se dragon.
1573. Tusser, Husb., xlii. (1878), 95. Bassel, fine and busht, sowe in May.
1586. Cogan, Haven Health, xxxvi. (1612), 50. A certaine Italian, by often smelling to Basill, had a Scorpion bred in his braine.
1627. H. Burton, Baiting of Pope’s Bull, Ep. Ded. 26. Basil (the Embleme of the Throne established by mercy) which being gently stroked on the hand, yeelds a pleasant smell, but crushed hard vpon it, vnsauory.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Sallet, Basil imparts a grateful Flavour if not too strong.
1861. Delamer, Kitch. Gard., 122. Sweet basil … is, as its name imports, one of the royalties among sweet herbs.
2. Used as a book-name for other plants: e.g., Wild Basil (Calamintha Acinos, Lyte, C. Clinopodium, Benth.), Field or Cow Basil (Saponaria Vaccaria, Lyte); also Basil-balm, -thyme (Calamintha Acinos).
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 239. Wilde Basill hath square hearie stemmes, beset with small leaues, much lyke to the leaues of Bushe Basill. Ibid., 241. Of Vaccaria, or Cow Basill.
1597. Gerard, Herball, II. ccxxiii. 675. The wilde Basil or Acynos.
1640. Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 19. Basil-thyme … because the smell thereof is so excellent, that it is fit for a king’s house.
