basil

basil · noun¹

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromβασιλικόν“royal”
2. Medieval Latin · derived frombasilicum
3. Old French · derived frombasile
4. Middle French · derived frombasile
5. Middle English · inherited frombasile
6. English todaybasil

Inherited from Middle English basile, from Middle French basile, from Old French basile, from Medieval Latin basilicum, from Ancient Greek βασιλικόν (basilikón, “royal”), from βασιλεύς (basileús, “king”). Doublet of basilic, basilicon, and basilicum; further related to basileus, basilean, and basileiolatry.

basil · noun, verb²

Variant of bezel.

basil · noun³

1. Arabic · derived fromبِطانَة“lining”
2. Late Latin · derived frombasanium
3. French · derived frombasane
4. English todaybasil

Corrupted from English basan, from French basane, from Late Latin basanium, from Arabic بِطانَة (biṭāna, “lining”).

basil · noun⁴

1. Old French · derived frombasile“basilisk”
2. English todaybasil

From Old French basile (“basilisk”).

Basil · proper noun⁵

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromΒασίλειος
2. Latin · derived fromBasilius
3. English todayBasil

Name of several early saints, particularly in the Orthodox Church, from Latin Basilius, from Ancient Greek Βασίλειος (Basíleios). Doublet of Vasilios and Vasily.

Words from the same roots