People who physically attack or assault others; those who make aggressive attacks on someone or something.
From Old French 'assaillant', present participle of 'assaillir' (to assail), from Latin 'assalire' composed of 'ad-' (to, toward) and 'salire' (to leap). The word entered English in the 14th century, originally meaning 'one who leaps toward' in an aggressive manner.
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