aspic

¹

[ as-pik ]

noun

1. a savory jelly usually made with meat or fish stock and gelatin, chilled and used as a garnish and coating for meats, seafoods, eggs, etc.
2. a similar jelly made with spiced tomato juice and gelatin, served as a salad.

aspic

²

[ as-pik ]

noun

1. Obsolete. asp ¹( def 1 ).

aspic

³

[ as-pik ]

noun

1. a variety of lavender ( Lavandula spica ) cultivated for its oil, used in perfumes and toiletries.

aspic

¹

/ ˈæspɪk /

noun

1. either of two species of lavender, Lavandula spica or L. latifolia , that yield an oil used in perfumery: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

aspic

²

/ ˈæspɪk /

noun

1. an archaic word for asp 1

aspic

³

/ ˈæspɪk /

noun

1. a savoury jelly based on meat or fish stock, used as a relish or as a mould for meat, vegetables, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspic¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from French; perhaps so called because the form or color resembled those of an asp, or because the jelly was as cold as an asp; aspic ²

Origin of aspic²

First recorded in 1520–30; from French, from Provençal aspic, alteration of Latin aspid- (stem of aspis ) “asp,” from Greek aspíd- (stem of aspís) “Egyptian cobra,” literally, “shield,” possibly so called from the shieldlike appearance of the cobra's head when it attacks; asp ¹

Origin of aspic³

First recorded in 1595–1605; from French  (huile d') aspic, for (huile de) spic “(oil of) lavender spike,” from Old French espic “spike lavender,” originally “spikenard,” from Medieval Latin spīcus “spikenard,” from Latin: variant of spīca, spīcum spike ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspic¹

C16: from Old French, a variant of aspe asp ²

Origin of aspic²

C17: from French, from Old Provençal espic spike, from Latin spīca, head (of flower); compare spikenard

Origin of aspic³

C18: from French: aspic (jelly), asp ¹; variously explained as referring to its colour or coldness as compared to that of the snake

Example Sentences

"This has the effect of preserving the economy in aspic," she writes, "with little incentive for people to respond to the changed world by establishing new and innovative businesses."

From BBC

For Glazer, it was about creating something “in present tense, not as a museum piece or something in aspic.”

From Seattle Times

She suggested thinking about this subterranean boundary zone as a geological aspic.

From Washington Post

The “bite” is actually seven squares of pork fashioned from braised pork feet and shoulder, topped with aspic and garnished with crisp watermelon radishes and Asian pear.

From Washington Post

Served as little squares shaped from braised pork feet and shoulder, topped with aspic and decked out with crisp watermelon radishes, the appetizer is finished with a stinging mala vinaigrette that makes Canton taste close.

From Washington Post