basilisk

A legendary reptile that is supposedly hatched by a serpent or a toad from the egg of a (black) rooster. Its look or breath is fatal and no human or animal can look at it and live. It is described as having legs, wings, serpentine and winding tail, and a crest or comb somewhat like a cock's. The basilisk of ancient times was described as a proper serpent, not above three palms (hand spans) long, with white marks or coronary spots upon the crown.

It is also known as cockatrice.

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Via Latin from Greek basiliskos, "minor king, kind of serpent," from basileus, "king".

References

Sources

  • Bonnerjea, Biren. (1920). A Dictionary of Superstitions and Mythology. Thomson Gale.
  • Browne, Sir Thomas. (1672). Pseudodoxia Epidemica III.vii, pp. 130-134.