assault

Where does the word "assault" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin ad saltus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Assault’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: ad saltus meant “a leaping attack.” Literally to a leap, from ad- (to) and saltus (a leap). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as asaut. Carried into French for a sudden violent attack. It reached English by 1200s as assault. Settled as the English word for a violent physical attack. Today, assault means a sudden violent physical attack on someone.

1. Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · medieval ad saltus "a leaping attack", literally to a leap, from ad- (to) and saltus (a leap).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval asaut "a sudden violent attack", carried into French for a sudden violent attack.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s assault "a violent physical attack", settled as the English word for a violent physical attack.