the.com/assault
the moment a fist becomes a felony, no contact required.
means A violent physical or verbal attack, or in law the threat or attempt to harm someone that puts them in fear of imminent contact, whether or not a blow actually lands.
from From Latin 'assaltus,' from 'assalire' — 'ad-' (toward) plus 'salire' (to leap). The word is literally a leap at someone, and it shares that leaping root 'salire' with cousins like 'salient,' 'somersault,' and 'sally.' It reached English through Old French 'asaut,' and the silent 'l' was later wedged back in by scribes keen to flaunt the Latin original.
- no touch
- Assault is the threat; battery is the actual hit.
- old roots
- From Latin assultus, meaning to leap upon.
- fear factor
- Putting someone in fear can legally count alone.
- salt link
- Shares its root with assail and somersault.
boston marathon bombing — april 15 2013 attack that killed 3 and injured 264 spectators
caning of charles sumner — may 1856 preston brooks beat senator sumner with a cane on senate floor
rodney king beating — march 3 1991 los angeles police officers struck motorist 56 times with batons