'attack' originates from French, specifically the word 'attaquer', where 'at-' meant 'toward' and 'tac' meant 'to touch or strike'.

'attaquer' transformed into the Middle English word 'attacken', and eventually became the modern English word 'attack'.

Initially, it meant 'to touch or strike', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to take aggressive action against'.