The word 'aspis' is Greek and means 'viper'.
Notes on verification
Confirmed that Greek 'aspis' can denote a venomous snake, but primary meaning is 'shield,' and the snake sense more precisely refers to the Egyptian cobra rather than a true viper, making the claim a simplification.
Sources
- Asp (snake) (en.wikipedia.org)
- https://www.etymonline.com/word/asp (etymonline.com)
- https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/aspis (billmounce.com)