Meaning

noun an early Christian church designed like a Roman basilica; or a Roman Catholic church or cathedral accorded certain privileges

noun a Roman building used for public administration

originBorrowed from Latin basilica, from Ancient Greek βᾰσῐλῐκή (băsĭlĭkḗ), from βᾰσῐλῐκὴ στοά (băsĭlĭkḕ stoá, “royal hall”), ultimately from βασιλικός (basilikós, “royal”), from βασιλεύς (basileús, “king, chief”). Doublet of basoche.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0