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asper

1 American  
[as-per] / ˈæs pər /

noun

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


asper 2 American  
[as-per] / ˈæs pər /

adjective

Obsolete.
  1. harsh; rough.


asper British  
/ ˈæspə /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

However, Ms Chilton says they are in talks with a bamboo plantation owner in Florida who has a Dendrocalamus asper trial ongoing.

From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2023

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 ● Nov. 20, 2023

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

From The Guardian ● Jun. 10, 2019

King Edmund's body may very likely have been, as Abbo says, "velut asper hericius, aut spinis hirtus carduus, in passione similis Sebastiano egregio martyri"; "like a rough hedgehog or a thistle bristling with thorns, etc."

From Through East Anglia in a Motor Car by J. E. (James Edmund) Vincent

The Latin word asper means rough or harsh, and was applied to things which had a rough surface.

From Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 10 The Guide by Charles Herbert Sylvester

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