arch. Forms: 4 assale, 5 assall, 6 assailȝe, 7 assaile, 6– assail. [orig prob. a. OF. assaille, f. assaillir to ASSAIL; in later use referred to the Eng. vb.] Assault, attack.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IX. 350. The toun wes hard to ta Vith oppyn assale.
1552. Lyndesay, Monarche, 3980. Duryng the tyme of this assailȝe.
1603. P. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1269. Cities forced by assaile.
1768. B. Thornton, Batt. Whigs, iii. 4. Rous’d from his torpor joins in fierce assail.
1813. J. Hogg, Queen’s Wake, 261. As oft recoiled from flank assail.
