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; see 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; see also 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

Others are quietly shuffled offstage, clinging to their aspic molds and doily-lined plates.

From Salon • Jun. 30, 2025

Two words still strike fear into the heart of Lisa Roeper of Capon Bridge, W.Va.: tomato aspic.

From Washington Post • Nov. 6, 2022

Shiitake and enoki mushrooms, strewn among globules of a lightly gelled aspic made from clean-tasting chicken broth, are served cold, invigorated, like many of Inari’s dishes, with a pow of chile oil.

From New York Times • Mar. 15, 2019

They began with chilled avocado soup and prawns in aspic.

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer