Etymologically
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onslaught

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈɒn.slɔːt/ (UK); /ˈɑn.slɔt/, /ˈɔn.slɔt/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is apparently borrowed from Dutch aanslag (“attack, a striking”),[2][3][4][5][6] from Middle Dutch aenslach,[2][3][4] from aen “on” and slach “blow”,[2][3][4] related to slay.[3][4][5][6] The English spelling was influenced by obsolete slaught “slaughter”.[2][3][4][6] Etymonline notes that the forms do not correspond well with the Dutch.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

An onset or attack, especially a vigorous one (before 1625, as anslaight).[7][3][4]

Semantic evolution

The spelling onslaught appears in 1654.[3] The word was apparently not used in the 18th century[7][4] and seems to have been revived by Walter Scott.[4] It is now also used of an overwhelming quantity, as of changes or letters.[2][5][1]

Timeline

  • before 1625 – anslaight, an attack.[7][3]
  • 1654 – the spelling onslaught.[3]
  • 18th century – apparently not in use.[7][4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A fierce attack or assault.
  2. An overwhelming outpouring or quantity.
  • slaughter
  • slay

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press