Where does “basilisc” come from?
basilisc (Middle Dutch) comes from Latin basiliscus, from Ancient Greek βασιλίσκος, from Ancient Greek βασιλεύς, from Proto-Hellenic gʷatiléus — chief; king.
Ancestry of “basilisc”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | basiliscus | a basilisk or cockatrice |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | βασιλίσκος | princelet, chieftain; basilisk, kind of serpent;... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | βασιλεύς | chief, master; king, lord, patron |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | gʷatiléus | chief; king |