adv. (adj.), prop. phrase. Obs. Forms: 5 a sawt, 5–7 assaut, 6 asawte, assault. [a. F. à saut to leaping: see saut (sense 10) in Littré.] In phr. To go or be assau(l)t: to seek the male, to rut.
c. 1400. Bk. Huntynge, MS. Bodl. No. 546, viii. 38. The fyxene of þe wolf is a sawt ones yn þe ȝeer.
1552. Huloet, Go asawte … which is the desyre betwene the male kynd, and the female kynde, Catulio.
1580. Baret, Alv., A 630. To go assault … Catulio.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XVI. xxv. When as Nature seemeth to goe proud or assaut, and is in the rut and furious rage of love.
