Bas"il, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Basiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Basiling.]
To grind or form the edge of to an angle. Moxon.
Bas"il (băz"ĭl), 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.
Bas"il (băz"ĭl), n. [Corrupt.
from E. basan, F. basane, LL. basanium, bazana,
fr. Ar. bithāna, prop., lining.] The skin of a sheep
tanned with bark.
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 (O. minimum),
the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name is also given to several
kinds of mountain mint (Pycnanthemum).
Basil thyme, a name given to the fragrant herbs
Calamintha Acinos and C. Nepeta. -- Wild
basil, a plant (Calamintha clinopodium) of the Mint
family.