n.
- a violent attack.
▸Law an act that threatens physical harm to a person, whether or not actual harm is done.
- a concerted attempt to do something demanding.
v.
make an assault on.
Derivative
- assaulter n.
- assaultive adj.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. asaut (n.), assauter (v.), based on L. ad- ‘to’ + saltare, from salire ‘to leap’.