English
asp
Asp comes from Old French aspe, from Latin aspis ‘asp, viper’, and ultimately from Ancient Greek ἀσπίς ‘shield’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀσπίςaspís‘shield’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaspis‘asp, viper’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400aspe
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘asp (snake)’
- Englishearliest quotation 1886asp
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀσπίςaspís‘shield’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaspis‘asp, viper’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400aspe
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘asp (snake)’
- Englishearliest quotation 1886asp
Earliest quotation: 1886, – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard: “'Two thousand years ago did thou and I and…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *spey- ‘to expand, extend, stretch’
spike, spine, spinal, spinach, spire, cusp, spina, spigot, buckthorn, spica, 28 more
through Proto-Indo-European *speyd-
through Latin aspis ‘asp, viper’
Another origin of asp
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*Hosp-reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*aspō‘aspen’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*aspu‘aspen’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150æspe‘an aspen’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500aspe‘aspen’
- Englishtodayasp
Today it means
noun A water snake.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἀσπίς / asp