aspic

¹ American  

[as-pik] / ˈæs pɪk /

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.

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aspic ² American  

[as-pik] / ˈæs pɪk /

noun

1. Obsolete. asp.

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aspic ³ American  

[as-pik] / ˈæs pɪk /

noun

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

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aspic ¹ British  

/ ˈæspɪk /

noun

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

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aspic ² British  

/ ˈæspɪk /

noun

1. an archaic word for asp 1

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aspic ³ British  

/ ˈæspɪk /

noun

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

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Etymology

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

Example Sentences

When Bernie finds the restaurant empty and a veal stock reduced to the consistency of “cold blood,” she thinks Tirel is making an aspic for the party.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

"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 • Apr. 16, 2024

Since then I’ve learned from friends and cooking shows that potato soup is awesome, yellow squash is wonderful, but I will never eat tomato aspic again.”

From Washington Post • Nov. 6, 2022

Compared to some of her other recipes — like beef Bourguignon or poached eggs in aspic — it's practically spartan.

From Salon • Jan. 25, 2022

A serving maid whisked away my uneaten sparrowgrass and replaced it with scallops and tomato aspic.

From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine