# overfall

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈəʊvəfɔːl/

## Definitions
1. A turbulent section of a body of water, caused by strong currents passing over submerged ridges.
2. Part of a garment that hangs so as to cover a lower part.

## Etymology
From Middle English overfallen, from Old English oferfeallan (“to fall upon, attack”), from Proto-West Germanic *obarfallan, *ubirfallan, from Proto-Germanic *ubirfallaną; equivalent to over- + fall. Cognate with Dutch overvallen (“to raid, overtake”), German überfallen (“to assault, attack, raid”), Swedish överfalla (“to attack”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/overfall