Where Did the Term “Military Raid” For a Quick Attack Come From and What Does the Word Raid Mean?

A sudden “raid” is usually over quickly, with the attackers strategically withdrawing as soon as their mission is completed.

It’s always a surprise attack.

Consider that the words road and rode both come from ride, as in horseback riding, and then consider that lightning-quick surprise attacks resulted from horsemen charging down a road.

Rade, “a riding, journey,” is the Old English and Scottish derivative word for raid.

When a hostile incursion came galloping down the road, the cry of “Rade!” went up, which easily became “Raid!” when retold in literature.