asper

¹

[ as-per ]

noun

1. a former silver coin of Turkey and Egypt: later a money of account equal to 1/120 of a piaster.

asper

²

[ as-per ]

adjective

, Obsolete.

1. harsh; rough.

asper

/ ˈæspə /

noun

1. a former Turkish monetary unit, a silver coin, worth 1 120 of a piastre

Word History and Origins

Origin of asper¹

1580–90; < Italian aspero < Medieval Greek áspron literally, white coin, noun use of neuter of áspros white

Origin of asper²

1325–75; < Latin: rough; replacing Middle English aspre < Middle French

Word History and Origins

Origin of asper¹

from Turkish, ultimately from Latin: rough, harsh

Example Sentences

There are more than 1,600 species of bamboo, and BamCore's preferred is Dendrocalamus asper, more commonly known as Giant Clumping bamboo, which they import from South America and Asia.

From BBC

Unless it is a fer-de-lance, or bothrops asper, a nasty pit viper found in Central and South America.

From The Guardian

The spiritus asper is caused by a too slow contraction of the vocal cords and their too gradual approach for phonation.

From Project Gutenberg

The word "asper" is the first descriptive adjective applied by Michelius.

From Project Gutenberg

Lepiota asperula Atkinson.—This lepiota resembles A. asper in some respects, but it is smaller and the spores are much smaller, being very minute.

From Project Gutenberg