# ashtray

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈæʃ.tɹeɪ/ · frequency rank #40,559

## Definitions
1. A receptacle for ash and butts from cigarettes and cigars.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂eHs-der.?
Proto-Germanic *askǭ
Proto-West Germanic *askā
Old English æsce
Middle English asshe
English ash
Proto-Germanic *trawją
Proto-West Germanic *trawi
Old English trēġ
Middle English trey
English tray
English ashtray
From ash + tray. Compare German Aschenbecher.

## Easily confused with
- **astral** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ashtray-vs-astral)
- **astray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ashtray-vs-astray)
- **ashram** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ashram-vs-ashtray)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ahstray`, `ashhtray`, `ashrtay`, `ashtary`, `ashtrayy`, `ashtrray`, `ashtrya`, `ashttray`, `asshtray`, `asthray`, `sahtray`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ashtray