A kind of basil, Ocimum minimum, with small leaves which are used as a culinary herb; also called bush basil.
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in Henry Lyte (1529–1607), botanist and antiquary. After Middle French petit basilic. Dodoens's Dutch name for the plant is edele basilicom, lit. ‘noble basil’.
Definition of small basil in US English:
small basil
noun
rare
A kind of basil, Ocimum minimum, with small leaves which are used as a culinary herb; also called bush basil.
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in Henry Lyte (1529–1607), botanist and antiquary. After Middle French petit basilic. Dodoens's Dutch name for the plant is edele basilicom, lit. ‘noble basil’.