The first use of asphalt by the ancients was as a cement to secure or join various objects, and it thus seems likely that the name itself was expressive of this application.
ðə fˈɜːst jˈuːs ʌv ˈæsfɔlt baɪ ðɪ ˈeɪntʃənts wʌz æz ɐ sᵻmˈɛnt tə sᵻkjˈʊɹ ɔːɹ dʒˈɔɪn vˈɛɹiəs ˈɑːbdʒɛkts, ænd ɪt ðˈʌs sˈiːmz lˈaɪkli ðætðə nˈeɪm ɪtsˈɛlf wʌz ɛkspɹˈɛsɪv ʌv ðɪs ˌæplɪkˈeɪʃən.