# asp

> English word · Noun · IPA /æsp/ · frequency rank #27,056

## Definitions
1. A water snake.
2. A venomous viper native to southwestern Europe (Vipera aspis).
3. The Egyptian cobra (Naja haje).
4. An evil person; a snake.
5. A type of European fish (Aspius aspius).
6. The caterpillar of various types of flannel moths which induce an intense pain when their hair is touched.
7. The caterpillar of various types of flannel moths which induce an intense pain when their hair is touched.

## Etymology
From Middle English aspe, from Old French aspe, from Latin aspis, aspidis (“asp, viper”), from Ancient Greek ἀσπίς (aspís, “shield; Egyptian cobra Naja haje”); compare Middle English aspide.

## Easily confused with
- **at** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-at)
- **aw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-aw)
- **AU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-au)
- **AZ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-az)
- **av** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-av)
- **ay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-ay)
- **ax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-ax)
- **ass** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-ass)
- **ate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-ate)
- **ave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-ave)
- **aye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-aye)
- **ATM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-atm)
- **awe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-awe)
- **axe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-axe)
- **aww** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-aww)
- **ATP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-atp)
- **Ava** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-ava)
- **aux** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-aux)
- **att** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-att)
- **Avi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/asp-vs-avi)

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