n.
Pronunciation: ' as
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English assa, probably from Old Irish asan, from Latin asinus
Date: before 12th century
1 : any of several hardy gregarious African or Asian perissodactyl mammals (genus Equus ) smaller than the horse and having long ears especially : an African mammal ( E. asinus ) that is the ancestor of the donkey
2 sometimes vulgar : a stupid, obstinate, or perverse person <made an ass of himself> ― often compounded with a preceding adjective <don't be a smart- ass >