assault

assault, in law, an attempt or threat, going beyond mere words, to use violence, with the intent and the apparent ability to do harm to another. If violent contact actually occurs, the offense of battery has been committed; modern criminal statutes often combine assault and battery. An assault may be both a crime and a tort, for which the party assaulted may sue for damages; the victim's freedom, as to move or remain at peace, must have been impinged on. Modern criminal statutes recognize certain degrees of assault (e.g., with intent to kill, to do great bodily harm, to rape) as aggravated assaults and felonies, though simple assault remains, as at common law, a misdemeanor. Either malevolence or recklessness (as in driving a car in reckless disregard of human life) may constitute the intent necessary to assault in most jurisdictions.

Bibliography

See W. L. Prosser, Handbook of the Law of Torts (3d ed. 1964).

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assault

Law an intentional or reckless act that causes another person to expect to be subjected to immediate and unlawful violence

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assault [ə′sȯlt]

(ordnance)

Final phase of an attack; closing with the enemy in hand-to-hand fighting.

The landing of troops for attack on the enemy's beach defenses.

The landing of parachute and glider elements on unsecured and unprepared drop zones and landing zones to attack and seize an airhead.

A short, violent, but well-ordered attack against a local objective, such as a gun emplacement, fort, or machine gun nest.

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Assault

famous horse in history of thoroughbred racing. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 1273]

See : Horse