'ataque' originates from Spanish, ultimately borrowed from Old French 'attaque' (verb 'attaquer'), via Italian 'attacco' and Medieval/Vulgar Latin forms such as 'attaccare' (from Latin prefix 'ad-' meaning 'to' plus a root meaning 'fasten/attach/strike').

'ataque' changed from Old French 'attaque' and Italian 'attacco' (and from Medieval Latin/Vulgar Latin 'attaccare') and eventually became the modern Spanish word 'ataque'.

Initially related to the idea of 'attaching' or 'fastening' (literally 'to join on' or 'to set on'), over time the sense shifted toward 'to set upon' and now commonly means 'an act of assault or sudden onset (of illness/emotion)'.