1. a round shield used by ancient Greek hoplites, typically made of wood and bronze
Usage: historical; also called hoplon
2. a venomous snake of North Africa and the Middle East, also known as the Egyptian cobra
Usage: zoology

Examples

• The hoplite carried his aspis into battle, using it to protect himself and his neighbors in the phalanx.
• Ancient Greek soldiers trained extensively with the aspis as part of their military equipment.
• The aspis was typically decorated with a distinctive emblem or symbol representing the warrior's city-state.
• In ancient Egypt, the aspis was feared as one of the most dangerous snakes in the region.
• The venom of the aspis made it a deadly threat to those who encountered it in the wild.