Basil \Bas"il\, 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Basil \Bas"il\, 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Basil \Bas"il\, n. [F. basilic, fr. L. badilicus royal, Gr. ?, fr. ? 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)