basil

Etymology 1

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; further related to basileus, basilean, and basileiolatry.

noun

1. A plant (Ocimum basilicum).
2. The leaves of this plant used as a herb.
3. Any other species in the genus Ocimum.

Etymology 2

Variant of bezel.

noun

1. The angle to which a joiner's tool is ground away.

verb

1. (transitive) To grind the edge of a tool to an acute angle.

Etymology 3

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

noun

1. The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.