attack

Where does the word "attack" come from? It comes from Italian attaccare, passing through French before entering English (1600s).

Attack’s story begins in Italian: attaccare meant “to attach, to join in combat.” To attach, to join battle, from taccare (to fasten). By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as attaquer. Adapted into French military vocabulary for launching an offensive. It reached English by 1600s as attack. Settled as the English word for an aggressive offensive action. Today, attack means an aggressive act intended to harm, defeat, or criticize someone or something.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · medieval attaccare "to attach, to join in combat", to attach, to join battle, from taccare (to fasten).
2. Stage 2 · French · 1500s attaquer "to launch an offensive", adapted into French military vocabulary for launching an offensive.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s attack "an aggressive offensive action against someone", settled as the English word for an aggressive offensive action.