Zool. [ad. L. aspis, a. Gr. ἀσπίς. The L. form was also formerly in use, and was occas. treated as Eng. with pl. aspisses. Cf. OF. aspe, and see also ASPIC1, ASPIDE.]
1. A small, venomous, hooded serpent, found in Egypt and Libya; the Naja Haje.
1340. Ayenb., 257. An eddre þet is yhote ine latin aspis.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. iii. 13. The venym of eddris, that ben clepid aspis, vndur her lippis.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., II. vi. 78. A beest named Aspis that may not be … taken but by charmyng.
1526. Tindale, Rom. iii. 13. The poyson of Aspes.
1593. Nashe, Christes Teares (1613), 148. At thy breasts (as at Cleopatras) Aspisses shal be put out to nurse.
1627. May, Lucan, IX. 806. Rose the sleep-causing Aspe with swelling head.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 159. Of temper as envenomed as an asp.
1869. Ruskin, Queen of Air, § 68. There is more poison in an ill-kept drain … than in the deadliest asp of Nile.
2. Also applied to a species of Viper (Vipera Aspis) found in various parts of Europe, and used poet. of any venomous serpent.
1712. Swift, Sid Hamet, Wks. 1755, III. II. 71. Till metamorphosed by his grasp, It grew an all-devouring asp.
1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. clx. The enormous asp Enforces pang on pang, and stifles gasp on gasp.
1861. Hulme, trans. Moquin-Tandon, II. V. i. 248. The Common Viper or Asp is a serpent to be carefully avoided.
3. Comb. and Attrib., as in aspworm (obs.) = asp.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xii. (1617), 19. We know the Aspworme by his stinging of vs.
1876. Birch, Rede Lect. Egypt, 39. Invested with the asp diadem of the crown.
