Anschlag
Anschlag is a German noun with several related meanings, most commonly used in three senses. First, it denotes a violent attack against persons or property, including acts of terrorism or physical assaults. In media and official language these attacks are often described as a “Terroranschlag” or simply “Anschlag,” sometimes distinguished from an assassination by using terms like “Attentat” for political killings. Second, the word can mean an attempt to commit a crime, especially a violent or political one, as in “ein Anschlag wurde geplant” or “ein Anschlagsversuch.” Third, Anschlag can refer to a public notice or posted sign, i.e., information affixed in a public place; in this sense the term appears in phrases such as “Anschläge am Schwarzen Brett,” though more common synonyms in everyday language include “Aushang” or “Hinweis.”
Etymology and sense development: the word derives from the verb anschlagen, historically meaning to strike against
Usage notes: in contemporary German, Anschlag is most frequently encountered in discussions of violent incidents (e.g.,
See also: Attentat, Terroranschlag, Anschlagsserie, Anschlagsort, Anschlagsziel.