ASP

anglicized form of Aspis, name used in classical antiquity for a venomous snake, probably the Egyptian cobra, Naja haje (see cobra). It was the symbol of royalty in Egypt, and its bite was used for the execution of favoured criminals in GrecoRoman times. Cleopatra is said to have killed herself with an asp. For horned asp and for asp viper, often called asp, see viper.