Whose cruel idea was it to put an S in the word lisp?

The word "lisp" has always had an "S" in it. It's derived from the Old English word "lispian," which meant "to speak indistinctly."

The misconception that "lisp" should be spelled without an "S" might come from:

* Mispronunciation: People who lisp might pronounce the "S" sound incorrectly, leading to a perception that it's not actually there.

* Avoidance: Some people might avoid using the word "lisp" due to its association with a speech impediment, substituting it with a word like "slur" or "stutter."

However, the correct spelling of the word "lisp" has always been with an "S."