blitz

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
blitz/blɪts/

▶noun

• 1 an intensive or sudden military attack.

  ■ (the Blitz) the German air raids on Britain in 1940–1.

• 2 informal a sudden and concerted effort.

• 3 American Football a play in which one or more defensive backs charge the quarterback of the opposing team.

▶verb

• 1 attack or seriously damage in a blitz.

• 2 succeed in overwhelming or defeating utterly.

• 3 American Football charge in a blitz.

– origin abbrev. of blitzkrieg.