Reverse Dictionary: ATTACK

ADJECTIVES
1400 — SMART of a battle, attack, etc.: fierce, violent; esp. vigorous and quick
1556 — SAULTABLE capable of being attacked or assaulted → obs.
..19C — DOWN ON attacking physically 
1905 — ILL-SET-ON foully attacked → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1980 — JACKED attacked, stabbed → sl.

INTERJECTIONS
1940 — WHAM! used to convey the impact of a sudden violent attack or blow → US
1940 — WHAMMO! used to convey the impact of a sudden violent attack or blow → US

NOUNS
1000 — ONFALL an attack or access of disease, plague, or calamity; an assault, on onset → obs. exc. Sc.
1275 — FRUMRESE a first attack, onslaught → obs.
1297 — SAULT attack, assault → obs.
1297 — SKECK an attack made for the sake of plunder; a petty raid → obs.
1330 — ACOUNTER an attack; an armed encounter → obs.
1330 — VENUE an attack or assault; a coming on, in order to strike → obs.
1340 — ONCOME an attack, an invasion → obs.
1375 — SHOWER a military attack or assault → obs.
1380 — AFFRAY an attack, an assault 
1489 — SAULTING the act of attacking or assaulting  obs.
1525 — WAKING a night-attack → obs.
1533 — OCCURSION attack, encounter; meeting; collision → obs.
1533 — OPPUGNATION the act of attacking or assaulting; attack, assault 
1535 — OPPUGNING attacking, assailing 
1541 — ONSETTING an attack, an assault → obs.
1542 — SKEG an attack made for the sake of plunder; a petty raid → obs.
1549 — AFFRONTURE attack, assault; the act of confronting or opposing in hostility → obs.
1565 — PUSH a vigorous charge, onset, or assault; an attack → obs., chiefly military usage
1581 — CANVASADO a sudden attack → obs.
1587 — AFFRONT an attack; an assault; a hostile encounter → obs.
1590 — AFFRET a sudden attack; an onslaught → obs.
1611 — AGGRESS an attack; an act of aggression 
1611 — CANVASS a shock; esp. that of a sudden attack or surprise → obs.
1615 — OCCURSATION attack; encounter; an act of running against something; meeting; collision → obs.
1625 — ANSLAIGHT a fierce or destructive attack, an onslaught, an affray → obs.
1626 — CANVASADO a night attack, a ‘camisado’ → obs.
1626 — POLEMIC a controversial argument; a strong verbal or written attack on a person
1632 — SUBREPTION sudden or unforeseen attack, as of temptation → obs.
1649 — MUSKETADE an attack with muskets; heavy musket fire → obs.
1721 — INFALL an attack, invasion, or onslaught → Sc. obs.
..L18 — DEAD SET a pointed attack on or approach to another person, often in the context of wooing → sl.
..19C — TACK an attack → Eng. dial.
1805 — BIRST an attack, a battle, a fight → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1827 — SAILYIE → SAILZIE attack, assault, onset → Sc.
1828 — ONDINGING an attack; an assault, an onset, an outburst, of noise, talk, etc. → Sc.
1854 — AGGRESSEE the object of an attack; a nation, etc. towards whom or which aggression is directed 
1858 — SIMULTANEITY a simultaneous attack 
1864 — NAIL-PIE an attack upon a person with the fingernails → Eng. dial.
1871 — ONDING an attack, an assault, an onset, an outburst, of noise, talk, etc. → Sc.
..L19 — SLAP an attack on someone → sl.
1902 — INGATE an attack, an inroad → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1911 — BRASH an attack → Sc. (Bk.)
1940 — TRIPLE WHAMMY a three-part attack, difficulty, threat, etc. → US sl.
1944 — HATCHET JOB a fierce and unwanted verbal attack on someone or  something, esp. in print, and esp. one intended to ruin their reputation → sl.
2000 — JUGGING an attack with a jug of boiling sugared water  → UK prison sl.
2006 — BLAST a verbal attack → US sl. (Bk.)
2006 — BLITZ a devastating attack → US sl. (Bk.)
2007 — THE BEATS a physical attack → sl. (Bk.)

NOUNS, PERSON
1854 — AGGRESSEE a person towards whom aggression is directed; the object of an attack 
1940 — SANDBAGGER a person who lulls an opponent into security, and then suddenly attacks → US sl.

VERBS
1205 — ONSEEK to attack → obs.
1275 — STURME to overwhelm, as with a storm; to attack with overpowering force → obs.
1330 — LASH to attack; to assail → obs.
1374 — OFFEND to attack, to assault, to assail; also, to act on the offensive → obs.
1387 — SAULT to attack; to assault → obs.
1390 — AFFRAY to attack, to assault → obs.
1400 — TACHE to make a hostile attack or charge; to charge → obs.
1432 — OPPUGN to attack, to fight against, to assault, to besiege → obs.
1460 — BESAIL to attack, to assail → obs.
1513 — STURT to attack, to trouble, to molest, to disturb → Sc.
1546 — HEAVE AT to threaten an attack upon; to take up a position of hostility to; to oppose → obs.
1571 — CROSSBITE to attack or censure bitingly or bitterly → obs.
1578 — BATTER to subject persons, opinions, etc. to heavy, crushing, or persistent attack 
1579 — AFFRONT to attack, to assault; to engage in battle → obs.
1596 — AGGRESS to attack, to assault, to set upon 
1599 — CANVAS → CANVASS to subject to attack or assault → obs.
1602 — ONSET to attack, to make an onset upon; to set upon → obs.
1604 — FALL ABOARD OF to attack, to fall upon → obs.
1644 — RABBLE to attack or assail a person on his property by means of a rabble; to mob 
1679 — HAVE A SMACK AT to make an attack on 
1720 — TACK to attack 
1725 — CHIV → CHIVE to attack with a sharp instrument; to stab → criminals’ sl.
.M18 — MOB → MOB IT to attack in a large group → sl.
1775 — YOKE to attack; to grip, to seize; to tackle; to meddle with; to fight → Sc.
1790 — TAKE TO to attack → Eng. dial.
..19C — FALL ABOARD to attack, to assault → Eng. dial.
..E19 — LACE INTO to attack, to beat, to thrash → sl.
1812 — RALLY to attack vigorously → boxing sl.
1815 — TOMAHAWK to attack savagely or mercilessly in speech or in writing; to demolish in a review or criticism 
1825 — BEGIN UPON A PERSON to attack or assail a person 
1827 — BICKER to attack with repeated strokes, to pelt with stones; to strike repeatedly → Sc.
1827 — SAILYIE → SAILZIE to attack, to assail, to assault → Sc. arch.
1828 — RAISE ON to attack, to turn upon in anger → Sc.
1828 — TACKLE to attack, to punish 
1842 — BULL-DOG to attack like a bull-dog; to assail or treat roughly 
.M19 — GO TO WORK ON to attack → sl.
.M19 — JUMP ON → JUMP UPON to attack, verbally or physically, someone who is seen to have exposed themselves to such an assault by their behaviour or their weakness → sl.
.M19 — SAIL IN → SAIL INTO to attack physically or verbally → sl., orig. US
.M19 — SCRUFF to attack, to manhandle → Aust. sl.
.M19 — SIC ON → SICK ON to have some attack a third party; to set someone on another person → sl.
.M19 — WALK INTO to attack, to overcome, to demolish → sl.
1851 — LET INTO to attack → sl.
1851 — SMALL-GANG to attack a person together; to mob → sl.
1858 — FAUNCE to make a sudden violent attack → Amer. dial.
1864 — MUG to attack and rob a person, esp. in a public place → colloq.
1866 — BUSHWHACK to attack by surprise; to ambush → Amer. dial.
1873 — WHIPSAW to attack or operate by letting rival parties attack one another, to the benefit of the more or less passive manipulator → sl.
1879 — SET ABOUT to attack or assault someone → UK colloq.
1888 — LAY IN to attack with vigour → colloq.
1897 — SAVAGE to attack savagely → Eng. dial.
1897 — WHALE AWAY to attack or do something vigorously and persistently → sl.
1898 — BESET to attack → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1898 — GIVE BELLOWS TO MEND to make a sharp attack upon, to beat soundly → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
..L19 — RUM-PAD to attack or rob on the highway → cant
..L19 — SAP → SAP DOWN → SAP UP to attack using a blackjack (a club) → sl.
..L19 — TAKE A SHOT to attack, whether physically or verbally → sl.
..L19 — TEAR DOWN to attack verbally; to reprimand severely → sl.
..L19 — WALK ROUND to prepare oneself to face an attack → sl.
..20C — COP A HEEL → COP AND HEEL to attack from behind → US prison sl.
..20C — DEAL IT OUT → DEAL OUT to attack verbally; to punish → Aust. sl.
..20C — DROP INTO to attack fiercely → colloq.
..20C — RAG to attack, to cause trouble; to rob → sl.
..20C — SPELL FOR to wait for, with the intention of attacking verbally or physically → W. Indies sl.
..20C — TEAR INTO to attack physically or verbally → sl.
..20C — WHALE INTO to attack physically → sl.
1900 — FALL A-BONES OF ANYONE to attack, to assail → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1900 — FANG AWAY to attack violently, to fight → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1902 — INTERRUPT to attack, to pursue; to interfere with; to annoy, to cause discomfort to → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1907 — CRAWL ONE’S HUMP to attack someone → US West. sl.
1907 — RAKE to attack verbally, to scold severely → Amer. dial.
1910 — WALTZ INTO to attack → sl.
1911 — TAKE TO SOMEONE to attack someone with the fists → NZ sl.
1917 — FEATHER INTO to attack vigorously; to fight → Amer. dial.
1920 — GANG to attack or kill as part of a gang, to gang up on → US sl.
1920 — LACE INTO to attack and beat; to thrash → US sl.
1920 — TAKE to attack, to confront → sl.
1930 — BOOST to attack → US sl.
1930 — COP A SUNDAY to attack suddenly by surprise → US prison sl.
1930 — TAKE THE PISS OUT OF to attack verbally; to sneer or jeer at  → sl.
1936 — GLASS to attack someone’s face using a glass or bottle as a weapon → UK sl.
1939 — LEAP FOR THE JUGULAR to launch an aggressive or unrestrained attack; to target an adversary’s weakest or most vulnerable point
1940 — BADMOUTH to attack verbally, to slander → sl.
1940 — LURRY INTO to attack, to get stuck into → Irish sl.
1940 — PUT ONE’S FOOT IN SOMEONE’S ASS to attack someone physically; to treat someone unkindly → US African-American sl.
1940 — PUT THE SLUG ON to hit or attack → US sl.
1940 — SANDBAG to lull someone into a false sense of security, and then suddenly attack them → US sl.
1940 — TAKE OVER THE HURDLES to attack in a group → US prison sl.
1945 — SMACK UP to attack someone; to beat someone up → Aust. sl.
1950 — HAVE SOMEONE ON to attack physically → sl.
1950 — TAKE A POKE AT to attack verbally, to cause problems for → sl.
1950 — TAKE LAG to attack verbally, to criticize → W. Indies & Black British usage
1957 — JAP to make a sneak attack on someone → US sl.
1959 — CHIVEY → CHIVVY to attack with a sharp instrument; to stab → Brit. sl.
1960 — FALL DOWN ON to attack → African-American & gang sl.
1960 — GRUNGE to attack, to assault, to terrify → sl.
1960 — PUKE SOMEONE OFF to attack, to cause trouble for → sl.
1960 — SCREAM ON ONE to attack, to give away a secret or to betray the confidence of someone; to tell; to inform → African-American sl.
1960 — SHOOT ON to attack verbally; to belittle; to insult → African-American usage
1960 — TAKE A SHIT to attack, to cause trouble for → sl.
1961 — BUST ON to attack verbally, to criticize or scold; in a weakened sense, to tease, to mock 
1966 — BUG to attack someone with bricks, bottles, and boots → UK vagrant alcoholics’ sl.
1967 — MONSTER to make a verbal attack on someone or something; to put pressure on → Aust. sl.
1968 — BLISTER to attack someone; to attack someone verbally → Aust. sl.
1968 — GIVE SOMEONE ARSEHOLES to attack someone with vigour → NZ sl.
1970 — LIGHT UP to attack or hit someone → African-American sl.
1970 — NYAM to attack, to arrest → Black British sl.
1970 — VAMP ON to make an unjust attack, to arrest → African-American sl.
1977 — GO FOR THE JUGULAR to launch an aggressive or unrestrained attack; to target an adversary’s weakest or most vulnerable point
1977 — JUMP UP SOMEONE’S ASS to attack someone → Amer. sl.
1980 — DEAL SOMEONE ONE to attack someone; to give someone a blow or beating → NZ sl.
1980 — GO ABOARD OF SOMEONE to attack or scold vigorously; to act vigorously and aggressively → Can. sl.
1980 — JUMP (ON) SOMEONE’S BONES to attack → sl.
1980 — TAKE SOMEONE TO THE BRIDGE to attack physically or verbally → African-American sl.
1980 — TAKE SOMEONE TO THE HOOP to attack physically or verbally → African-American sl.
1981 — DOWNMOUTH to attack verbally, to slander → US sl.
1984 — BITE SOMEONE’S HEAD OFF to attack verbally, esp. as a disproportionate response → UK sl.
1984 — BOTTLE to attack someone with a bottle, esp. in the face → UK sl.
1984 — SNAP SOMEONE’S HEAD OFF to attack verbally, esp. as a disproportionate response → UK sl.
1985 — MALKY to attack and cut someone with a razor; to stab → Sc. sl.
1988 — BUM-RUSH to attack with a sudden, violent rush, esp. as a group or gang; to assail, to assault → orig. African-American
1990 — MAD-DOG to attack verbally → US students’ sl.
1990 — PANEL to attack, to beat up → sl.
1990 — TAKE A POP to attack verbally → sl.
1990 — TAKE THE RIP OUT OF to attack verbally, to mock, to criticize → sl.
1992 — GO TO TOWN ON to attack excessively either verbally or physically → Ireland
1996 — JUG to attack someone with a jug of boiling water, esp. sugared water → UK sl.
1997 — SKULL to attack someone; to strike someone → Irish sl.
1998 — BATTLE to attack verbally → US sl.
1999 — SINK THE BOOT → SINK THE SLIPPER attack verbally; to kick viciously → Aust. sl. (Bk.)
..L20 — FILL IN (SOMEONE’S) COUPON to attack a person’s face with the jagged end of a smashed bottle → Sc. sl.
2001 — VEX to engage someone in an abusive verbal attack → UK sl.
2003 — GUN to attack verbally → UK sl.
2006 — BLAST to attack verbally, to criticize → US sl. (Bk.)