aspic

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A meat or fish jelly.
2. (countable, uncountable) A dish in which ingredients are set into a gelatine, jelly-like substance made from a meat stock or consommé.
3. (countable, obsolete, poetic, uncountable) An asp, a small venomous snake of Egypt.
4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) A light cannon firing a two-pound ball.

Adj

Aspish; relating to an asp, a small venomous snake of Egypt.

Synonyms

jelly

gelatine

galantine

Jell-O

meat-jelly

gelatin dessert

fish in jelly

fish in aspic

jello

jellied meat

Translations

aspic

Aspik

Sülze

🍽️

aspic

gelatina

λεβάντα

είδος πηκτής

aspic

gelée

aspic

gelatina

œufs en gelée

aspics

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈæspɪk/

Etymology

Cognate with French: basilic

In summary

Borrowed from French aspic, from Latin aspis, and possibly influenced by French basilic (“basilisk”). The culinary sense may come from association with the snake due to the traditional colors and cold temperature of aspic, in addition to the fact that the gelatin was often molded in a shape similar to a coiled snake.