basil

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
basil /ˈbaz(ə)l, -zɪl/

▶noun

• 1 an aromatic plant of the mint family, native to tropical Asia, used as a culinary herb. [Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil) and other species.]

• 2 (also wild basil) a European plant which grows in hedges and scrub. [Clinopodium vulgare.]

– origin ME: from OFr. basile, via med. L. from Gk basilikon, neut. of basilikos (see basilica).