Relating to or resembling a basilica in structure or design; also, relating to a prominent vein in the arm.
From Latin 'basilica,' from Greek 'basilike' (royal). The vein was named 'basilic' because it was considered the most important vein in the arm by ancient anatomists.
Anatomists called the basilic vein 'royal' (basilic) because they thought it was the king of all veins in the arm—it was such a prestigious designation that doctors still use the name 1,500 years later.
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