Plural of basil; aromatic herbs with mint-like leaves commonly used in cooking, especially Mediterranean and Asian cuisines.
From Greek basileus (king), because basil was considered the 'king of herbs.' The plant traveled from India and Iran to Europe through trade routes.
Ancient Greeks called basil 'the king of herbs' but also thought it symbolized misery and poverty—the same plant meant totally different things in different cultures, from Italian cooking royalty to Indian sacred offerings.
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