Asp
/æsp/noun
A venomous snake, especially a cobra or viper; also a type of plant in some contexts.
Did you know?English asp comes through Latin and Greek from an even older Egyptian/near-Eastern snake word, and it became so iconic that Cleopatra’s legendary death is often linked to an asp.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Egyptian / Near Eastern
Egyptian
*ʿf* (reconstructed)
“A snake term likely referring to a venomous serpent”
Ancient Greek
Greek
aspís
“A shield; also a venomous serpent, probably because of the shield-like shape or the serpent’s association with defense”
Latin
Latin
aspis
“A venomous serpent, especially an asp or viper”
Old French
Old French
aspe
“An asp, a venomous snake”
Middle English
English
asp
“A venomous snake”
Modern English
English
asp
“A venomous snake, especially a cobra or viper”