Forms: 6 basylyc, 7–8 basilick(e, 8– basilic. [a. F. basilique (16th c.), ad. L. basilicus, a. Gr. βασιλικός royal, kingly, f. βασιλεύς king.]
1. Kingly, royal, sovereign. ? Obs. rare.
1728. Earbery, trans. Burnet’s St. Dead, I. 13. In this world we see nothing except God’s basilick justice.
2. Phys. Specific epithet of the large vein of the arm starting from the elbow and discharging into the axillary vein. [So called from its supposed great importance; the right and left basilic veins were formerly thought to be in direct communication with the liver and spleen, respectively.]
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg. That party that was deuyded vnder the arme pyttes that goeth in to the inwarde party in descending appereth within the bought of the elbowe, and is called Basylyc.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, I. (1692), 88. As if he had prick’d the Court in the Basilick or Liver-vein.
1849–52. Todd, Cycl. Anat. & Phys., IV. 1497/1. The basilic vein … ascends along the inner margin of the biceps muscle.
