a. and sb. Forms: ? 1 æspen, 4– aspen, 6–8 aspine, 7–9 aspin. [f. ASP1 + -EN; cf. ashen. In aspen leaf we might suppose a survival of the OE. gen. æspan: see the first quot.; cf. MHG. espenlaub; the later subst. use evidently arose from taking aspen in such constructions as a sb. used attributively; later instances of the adj. may be really attrib. uses of the factitious sb.]
A. adj.
1. Of or belonging to the asp: see ASP1.
[Cf. c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 116. Genim æspan rind.]
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sompn. Prol., 3. Lyk an aspen leef he quok for ire.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., II. iv. 45. Oh had the monster seene those Lilly hands, Tremble like Aspen leaues vpon a Lute.
1632. G. Fletcher, Christ’s Tri., 66. Perch’t on an aspin sprig.
1829. Southey, All for Love, vi. Wks. VII. 188. Like an aspen leaf he trembled.
2. fig. Tremulous, quivering; quaking, timorous.
a. 1420. Occleve, A de B, xvii. With aspen herte I praye hem abyde.
1596. Chapman, Iliad, VIII. 405. Possess’d with aspen fear.
c. 1630. Drumm. of Hawth., Wks. (1711), 7/1. And, as their aspin stalks those fingers bind [? band] … I wish’d to be a hyacinth in her hand.
1757. H. Walpole, Lett. H. Mann, 296, III. 191. Has the aspen Duke of Newcastle lived thus?
1820. Keats, Hyperion, I. 94. His beard Shook horrid with such aspen malady.
3. esp. in reference to a woman’s tongue.
1532. More, Confut. Barnes, VIII. Wks. 769/1. For if they [women] myghte be suffred to begin ones in the congregacion to fal in disputing, those aspen leaues of theirs would neuer leaue waggyng.
1567. T. Howell, Poems (1879), 150. In womens mindes: are diuers winds, which stur their Aspin tunge, to prate and chat.
B. sb. = ASP1.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 8. The aspine good for staves.
1703. Art’s Improv., I. 33. The whitest Wood … is fitest for this purpose; as Aspen, Abel, Sycamore.
a. 1717. Parnell, Poet. Wks. (1833), 51. Thy aspins quiver in a breathing breeze.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., I. II. 454. Above our heads rustle the aspens grey.
b. in similative relations; as aspen-like, -weak.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, lxii. A momentary aspen-like touch.
1879. J. Todhunter, Alcestis, 116. And leaves me weak, O, aspen weak.
