Basilitrice

Basilitrice is a portmanteau of the words "basilisk" and "cockatrice". The two are very similar creatures that have appeared in folklore, with roots dating back as far as Pliny the Elder, making them far Older Than Feudalism. Their common traits include portrayals as generally malicious creatures; the ability to kill people and plants through a single look, their breath, or even the merest touch; and a shared enemy in the weasel, who was not only considered immune to both their gazes, but were reputed to be reliable 'basilisk killers', even if they should die themselves in the process.

The basilisk was first explicitly described in Natural History. The word originates from the Greek form basilískos (Greek: βασιλίσκος; Latin: basiliscus), meaning "little king".