Definition of "overfall"
overfall
verb
third-person singular simple present overfalls, present participle overfalling, simple past overfell, past participle overfallen
(transitive) To change or affect so as to pervade (something); to come over
Quotations
From thence King Hakon proceeded up the Dovrefield; but as he was going over the mountains he road all day after a ptarmigan, which flew up beside him , and in this chase a sickness overfell him, which ended in his death ; and he died on the mountains.
1889, Snorri Sturluson, Samuel Laing, Rasmus Bjørn Anderson, The Heimskringla
(intransitive) To fall over; to spill from an edge or height.
Quotations
I had arrived at this conclusion, and was meditating on my possible conduct under the circumstances, as I groped my way gingerly enough in the dark shadow of a long crumbling wall, where the ivy clustered and overfell, when round a slight bend, obscured by straggling bushes , I came upon the most unexpected and picturesque sight imaginable – that of a gipsy camp.
1900, Muriel Hine, “A Gipsy Wooing”, in The Windsor Magazine, volume 11, page 511
(intransitive) To fall over; to topple.
Quotations
And accordingly the said Indian went into his canoe at the mouth of the Great Bay , and when he was about a rod off the boat, the said John Keniston took up my gun and shot at him , and immediately after the canoe overfell and the Indian swimm'd towards the shore — and about a quarter of a mile further up the Bay, the other Indian which before had left the boat came off to them and inquired after his brother;
1998, Historical New Hampshire - Volumes 53-54, page 92