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A support for the spear when couched for the attack. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A genus of venomous ticks which attack men and animals. The famous Persian Argas, also called Miana bug, is A. Persicus; that of Central America, called talaje by the natives, is A. Talaje.

To provide one's self with arms, weapons, or means of attack or resistance; to take arms. " 'Tis time to arm." Shak.

ony plates. The armadillos burrow in the earth, seldom going abroad except at night. When attacked, they curl up into a ball, presenting the armor on all sides. Their flesh is good food. There are several species, one of which (the peba) is found as far north as Texas. See Peba, Poyou, Tatouay.

To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with artillery. No rude noise mine ears assailing. Cowper. No storm can now assail The charm he wears within. Keble.

Assailing; attacking. Milton.

The act or power of assailing; attack; assault. [R.] His most frequent assailment was the headache. Johnson.

A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town. The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault. Prescott. Unshaken bears the assault Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwe…

One who assaults, or violently attacks; an assailant. E. Hall.

Attack at once; -- a direction at the end of a movement to show that the next is to follow immediately, without any pause.

To pierce; to attack. [Obs.]

To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force; as, to attempt the enemy's camp. Without attempting his adversary's life. Motley.

Capable of being attempted, tried, or attacked. Shak.

e's back up, to assume an attitude of obstinate resistance (from the action of a cat when attacked.). [Colloq.] -- To see the back of, to get rid of. -- To turn the back, to go away; to flee. -- To turn the back on one, to forsake or neglect him.

haste, of trees, earth, palisades, wagons, or anything that will obstruct the progress or attack of an enemy. It is usually an obstruction formed in streets to block an enemy's access.

An any obstruction; anything which hinders approach or attack. "Constitutional barriers." Hopkinson.

To attack; to bait. [Obs.] Spenser.

Any place where cannon or mortars are mounted, for attack or defense.

h respect to something else; as, the land bears N. by E. To bear against, to approach for attack or seizure; as, a lion bears against his prey. [Obs.] -- To bear away (Naut.), to change the course of a ship, and make her run before the wind. -- To bear back, to retreat. "Bearing back from the blows of their sable anta…

o measure or regulate time in music by the motion of the hand or foot. -- To beat up, to attack suddenly; to alarm or disturb; as, to beat up an enemy's quarters.