basilisk

1. (mythology) A mythical snake-like dragon, so venomous that even its gaze is deadly.Examples: "the deadly look of the basilisk"; "The queſtion is in vvhat part of this Serpent the poyſon doth lye; Some ſay in the head alone, and that therefore the Bazeliske is deafe, bycauſe the Ayre vvhich ſerueth the Organe of hearing, is reſolued by the intenſiue calidity: but this ſeemeth not to bee true, […]"; "And without more ado she […] fixed her wonderful eyes upon me - more deadly than any Basilisk's - and pierced me through and through with their beauty, and sent her light laugh ringing through the air like chimes of silver bells."

2. (heraldry) A type of dragon used in heraldry.

3. (weaponry) A type of large brass cannon.Examples: "Awake ye men of Memphis, heare the clange / Of Scythian trumpets, heare the Baſiliſkes, / That roaring, ſhake Damaſcus turrets downe, […]"

4. (philosophy, science fiction) An infohazard or cognitohazard, especially a Langford's basilisk.Examples: "A basilisk, in this context, is information that can hurt you simply because you are aware of it."