assault and battery

noun

, Law.

1. an assault with an actual touching or other violence upon another. : a&b

assault and battery

noun

1. criminal law a threat of attack to another person followed by actual attack, which need amount only to touching with hostile intent

Word History and Origins

Origin of assault and battery¹

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

Why, you could see that old girl fairly squirm when she got one of them assault-and-battery glances.

From Project Gutenberg