Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "aspis" tana nufin wani nau'in garkuwa da ake amfani da shi a tsohuwar Girka. Yawancin lokaci an yi shi da itace, an lulluɓe shi da fata ko tagulla, kuma yana da babban shugaban ƙarfe na tsakiya ko umbo. An yi amfani da aspis da farko ta hanyar hoplites, ko kuma sojoji masu dauke da makamai, kuma wani muhimmin bangare ne na yakin Girka. A cikin amfani na zamani, kalmar "aspis" tana iya nufin jinsin macizai masu dafin, wanda aka fi sani da asps.