basil

A plant (Ocimum basilicum).uncountableusually

The leaves of this plant used as a herb.uncountableusually

Any other species in the genus Ocimum.uncountableusually

The angle to which a joiner's tool is ground away.

• [H]old the edge of your Iron upvvards in your left hand and your VVhet-ſtone in your right, and having firſt ſpit upon your Stone to vvet it, apply it to the Baſil of your Iron, in ſuch a Poſition that it may bear upon the vvhole bredth of

To grind the edge of a tool to an acute angle.transitive

• These usually large chisels may have the edge basiled on either the inside or the outside of the 90° angle of the blade.

The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.

• Each sleeper has for covering a large basil (dressed sheep-skin), such as cobblers use for aprons. As they lie in long rows, in the most profound repose, with these dark brown wrappers about them, they present the uniform look and arrangeme

A type of cannon.obsolete

A fetter fastened round the ankle of a prisoner.archaichistorical

• When I once more feel that sharp smarting around the scabby sores that cluster like so many oysters on my ankles beneath my chained iron basils, I know that the tide has turned.