from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Insult \In*sult"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Insulted}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Insulting}.] [F. insulter, L. insultare, freq. fr.
insilire to leap into or upon; pref. in- in, on + salire to
leap. See {Salient}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To leap or trample upon; to make a sudden onset upon.
[Obs.] --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. To treat with abuse, insolence, indignity, or contempt, by
word or action; to abuse; as, to call a man a coward or a
liar, or to sneer at him, is to insult him.
[1913 Webster]