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sally

 - 3 dictionary results

sal⋅ly

  [sal-ee] noun, plural -lies, verb, -lied, -ly⋅ing.
Use sally in a Sentence
–noun
1. a sortie of troops from a besieged place upon an enemy.
2. a sudden rushing forth or activity.
3. an excursion or trip, usually off the main course.
4. an outburst or flight of passion, fancy, etc.: a sally of anger.
5. a clever, witty, or fanciful remark.
6. Carpentry. a projection, as of the end of a rafter beyond the notch by which the rafter is fitted over the wall plate.
–verb (used without object)
7. to make a sally, as a body of troops from a besieged place.
8. to set out on a side trip or excursion.
9. to set out briskly or energetically.
10. (of things) to issue forth.
Origin:
1535–45; < MF saillie attack, n. use of fem. ptp. of saillir to rush forward < L salīre to leap

Related forms:
sal⋅li⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
5. quip, witticism.

Sal⋅ly

  [sal-ee]
–noun
a female given name, form of Sarah.
Also, Sallie.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To sally
sal·ly   (sāl'ē)   
intr.v.   sal·lied, sal·ly·ing, sal·lies

  1. To rush out or leap forth suddenly.

  2. To issue suddenly from a defensive or besieged position to attack an enemy.

  3. To set out on a trip or excursion: sallied forth to see the world.

n.   pl. sal·lies

  1. A sudden rush forward; a leap.

  2. An assault from a defensive position; a sortie.

  3. A sudden emergence into action or expression; an outburst.

  4. A sudden quick witticism; a quip. See Synonyms at joke.

  5. A venturing forth; a jaunt.


[From French saillie, a sally, from Old French, from feminine past participle of salir, to rush forward, from Latin salīre, to leap; see sel- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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