hasp
/hæsp/
"hasp" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“hasp” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 4
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A clasp, especially a metal strap fastened by a padlock or a pin; also, a hook for fastening a door.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | hasp |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /hæsp/ |
| Letters | 4 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “hasp” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for hasp is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /hæsp/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for hasp, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English haspe, hespe, from Old English hæsp, hæpse (“hasp; clasp; fastening”), from Proto-West Germanic *haspijā, from Proto-Germanic *haspijǭ, *hapsijǭ (“hasp”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kamb- (“to bend; crook”). Cognate with Middle Dutch h… The correct English form is hasp, spelled H-A-S-P.
Definition
- 1A clasp, especially a metal strap fastened by a padlock or a pin; also, a hook for fastening a door.
- 2A spindle to wind yarn, thread, or silk on.
- 3Alternative form of hesp (“measure of linen thread”).
- 4An instrument for cutting the surface of grassland; a scarifier.
Etymology
From Middle English haspe, hespe, from Old English hæsp, hæpse (“hasp; clasp; fastening”), from Proto-West Germanic *haspijā, from Proto-Germanic *haspijǭ, *hapsijǭ (“hasp”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kamb- (“to bend; crook”). Cognate with Middle Dutch haspe, Middle Low German haspe, hespe, German Low German Haspel (“spindle of yarn”), German Häspe, Danish haspe, Swedish hasp, Icelandic hespa (“clamp; hasp; skein of yarn”).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “hasp”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is H-A-S-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /hæsp/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.