English
time attack
From time + attack.
The story
The time-trial sense is a calque of Japanese タイムアタック (taimu atakku), itself from English.
Today it means
noun An attack in which one may gain an advantage in time against one's opponent or rival.
Sources
Sources: Wiktionary, “time attack”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.
Etymograph / time attack