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Webster 1913 Edition


Basil

Bas′il

(băz′ĭl)
,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
basile
and E.
Bezel
.]
The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a plane, is ground.
Grier.

Bas′il

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Basiled
([GREEK]);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Basiling
.]
To grind or form the edge of to an angle.
Moxon.

Bas′il

,
Noun.
[F.
basilic
, fr. L.
basilicus
royal, Gr.
βασιλικόσ
fr.
βασιλεύσ
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 (
Ocymum 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
Calamintha Nepeta
.
Wild basil
,
a plant (
Calamintha clinopodium
) of the Mint family.

Bas′il

(băz′ĭl)
,
Noun.
[Corrupt. from E.
basan
, F.
basane
, LL.
basanium
,
bazana
, fr. Ar.
bithāna
, prop., lining.]
The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.

Webster 1828 Edition


Basil

BAS'IL

,
Noun.
s as z. The slope or angle of a tool or instrument as of a chisel or plane; usually of 12 degrees, but for hard wood, 18 degrees.

BAS'IL

,
Verb.
T.
To grind or form the edge of a tool to an angle.

BAS'IL

,
Noun.
s as z.
1.
A plant of the genus Ocymum, of which there are many species, all natives of warm climates. They are fragrant aromatic plants, and one species, the sweet basil, is much used in cookery, especially in France.

BAS'IL

,
Noun.
The skin of a sheep tanned; written also basan.

Definition 2024


Basil

Basil

See also: basil and BASIL

English

Proper noun

Basil

  1. A male given name, in quiet but steady use in the UK.
    • 1866 Eliza Tabor Stephenson, Hester's Sacrifice, Hust and Blackett, 1866, Volume II, page 28:
      "Nonsense. I'm sure he can't have grey hair with such a pretty name as that. Basil Brooke, Basil Brooke," and May chanted the name over and over in her girlish, musical voice. "It sounds like all sorts of pleasant pictures. - -

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