Aspis
/ˈæs.pɪs/noun
An ancient Greek word for a round shield, and also the name used for certain venomous snakes.
Did you know?In Greek sources, aspis could mean both a warrior’s shield and a snake, which is why the word later fed the Latin name for a venomous serpent.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂eḱ- / *h₂ep-
“A debated ancient root behind words for sharpness and possibly striking or cutting, though the exact prehistory of Greek aspis is not fully certain.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀσπίς (aspís)
“A round shield; also used for certain serpents, especially venomous ones.”
Classical Latin
Latin
aspis
“A serpent, especially a viper or asp.”
Old French
Old French
aspis / aspe
“A venomous snake.”
Middle English
English
asp
“A venomous snake, especially the Egyptian cobra.”
Modern English
English
asp
“A venomous snake; also a type of shield in historical contexts via scholarly or poetic usage.”