Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1846
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ONSLA, n. Also conflated form onsla-sault [ < onsla + assault].
1. An onslaught, assault.Edb. 1846 W. Tennant Muckomachy 11, 57:
Whilk fir'd them a' For that on-sla . . . Thence to have amplest sweep o' ground For onsla-sault and doughty deeds.
2. A great multitude or flock (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[Etym. rather doubtful. In 1. prob. a nonce reduction of onslaught, Du. aanslag, attack, attempt, in 2. phs. an extended meaning of the latter, as a later direct borrowing from Du. See note to Onslaucht.]
