basil
    n 1: any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or
         perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum
    2: (Roman Catholic Church) the bishop of Caesarea who defended
       the Roman Catholic Church against the heresies of the 4th
       century; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-379) [syn:
       Basil, St. Basil, Basil of Caesarea, Basil the Great,
       St. Basil the Great]
    3: leaves of the common basil; used fresh or dried [syn:
       basil, sweet basil]

Basil \Bas"il\ (b[a^]z"[i^]l), n. [Cf. F. basile and E.
   Bezel.]
   The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a
   plane, is ground. --Grier.
   [1913 Webster]

Basil \Bas"il\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Basiled (?); p. pr. & vb.
   n. Basiling.]
   To grind or form the edge of to an angle. --Moxon.
   [1913 Webster]

Basil \Bas"il\, n. [F. basilic, fr. L. basilicus royal, Gr.
   basiliko`s fr. basiley`s 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).
   [1913 Webster]

   Basil thyme, a name given to the fragrant herbs Calamintha
      Acinos and Calamintha Nepeta.

   Wild basil, a plant (Calamintha clinopodium) of the Mint
      family.
      [1913 Webster]

Basil \Bas"il\ (b[a^]z"[i^]l), n. [Corrupt. from E. basan, F.
   basane, LL. basanium, bazana, fr. Ar. bith[=a]na, prop.,
   lining.]
   The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.
   [1913 Webster] Basilar