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Definition of common basilisk

common basilisk

Plural:common basilisks
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common basilisk Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A large species of lizard (Basiliscus basiliscus) native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, distinguished by its tall dorsal crests and its unique ability to sprint upright across the surface of water to escape predators.

Example

"During our boat tour in Costa Rica, we watched a common basilisk dash rapidly across the surface of the river before disappearing into the dense underbrush."

• Nearby Words

comix
commix
common adder
common basilisk
common bean
common boxwood
common carp

Word Origin & Etymology

The name combines 'common', indicating its widespread geographic range, with 'basilisk', which derives from the Greek 'basiliskos' meaning 'little king', referring to the prominent, crown-like crest on the male lizard's head.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Common basilisk. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/common basilisk
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