Basilisk vs. Cockatrice — What's the Difference?

In European bestiaries and legends, a basilisk ( or ) is a legendary reptile reputed to be a serpent king, who can cause death with a single glance. According to the Naturalis Historia of Pliny the Elder, the basilisk of Cyrene is a small snake, "being not more than twelve fingers in length", that is so venomous, it leaves a wide trail of deadly venom in its wake, and its gaze is likewise lethal.

A cockatrice is a mythical beast, essentially a two-legged dragon wyvern or serpent-like creature with a rooster's head. Described by Laurence Breiner as "an ornament in the drama and poetry of the Elizabethans", it was featured prominently in English thought and myth for centuries.

A legendary serpent or dragon with lethal breath and glance.

A serpent hatched from a cock's egg and having the power to kill by its glance.

Any of various tropical American lizards of the genus Basiliscus, having a crest on the head and back and fringes of skin around the toes of the hind feet that enable it to run upright across the surface of water for short distances.

(mythology) A legendary creature about the size and shape of a dragon or wyvern, but in appearance resembling a giant rooster, with some lizard-like characteristics.

A mythical snake-like dragon, so venomous that even its gaze was deadly.

(obsolete) Mistress, harlot.

(science fiction) An infohazard or cognitohazard, especially a Langford's basilisk.

A snake or serpent that appears to be hatched of a rooster, or cock's, egg.

(heraldry) A type of dragon used in heraldry.

(speculated) The cobra. en

A tree-dwelling type of lizard of the genus Basiliscus: the basilisk lizard.

Any venomous or deadly thing.

A type of large brass cannon.

A fabulous serpent whose breath and look were said to be fatal. See Basilisk.

Suggesting a basilisk (snake-like dragon): baleful, spellbinding.

A representation of this serpent. It has the head, wings, and legs of a bird, and tail of a serpent.

A fabulous serpent, or dragon. The ancients alleged that its hissing would drive away all other serpents, and that its breath, and even its look, was fatal. See Cockatrice.

A venomous serpent which which cannot now be identified.

A lizard of the genus Basiliscus, belonging to the family Iguanidæ.

Any venomous or deadly thing.

A large piece of ordnance, so called from its supposed resemblance to the serpent of that name, or from its size.

Monster hatched by a reptile from a cock's egg; able to kill with a glance

(classical mythology) a serpent (or lizard or dragon) able to kill with its breath or glance

Ancient brass cannon

Small crested arboreal lizard able to run on its hind legs; of tropical America