assailant

Definition of assailant

Etymology

Old French asaillant, from the verb asaillir (“to jump on”), from Latin assaliō, itself from ad (“to, towards”) + saliō (“to jump”).

Noun

assailant (plural assailants)

1. Someone who attacks or assails another violently, or criminally; an attacker.
2. (figuratively, by extension) A hostile critic or opponent.