asps
|asp|
/æsp/
(asp)
venomous snake
Etymology
'asp' originates from Old French 'aspe', ultimately from Latin 'aspis' and Greek 'aspis', where Greek 'aspis' originally meant 'shield'.
'asp' changed from Old French 'aspe' (from Latin 'aspis', Greek 'aspis') and eventually became the modern English word 'asp'.
Initially it meant 'shield' in Greek, but over time the term came to refer to a venomous snake and now means 'venomous snake' (especially the Egyptian cobra) in modern English.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'asp': venomous snakes, especially those historically associated with ancient Egypt (often the Egyptian cobra).
The museum displayed several asps recovered from archaeological sites along the Nile.
Synonyms
Noun 2
(figurative, rare) Treacherous or harmful persons described metaphorically as 'asps'.
In their memoirs they described the political asps who undermined reform efforts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/01 04:51