Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sally
Sal′ly
(săl′ly̆)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Sallied
(-lĭd)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Sallying
.] [F.
saillir
, fr. L. salire
to leap, spring, akin to Gr. ἄλλεσθαι
; cf. Skr. sṛ
to go, to flow. Cf. Salient
, Assail
, Assault
, Exult
, Insult
, Saltation
, Saltire
.] To leap or rush out; to burst forth; to issue suddenly; as a body of troops from a fortified place to attack besiegers; to make a sally.
They break the truce, and
sally
out by night. Dryden.
The foe retires, – she heads the
sallying
host. Byron.
Sal′ly
,Noun.
pl.
Sallies
(#)
. [F. ]
saillie
, fr. saillir
. See Sally
, Verb.
1.
A leaping forth; a darting; a spring.
2.
A rushing or bursting forth; a quick issue; a sudden eruption; specifically, an issuing of troops from a place besieged to attack the besiegers; a sortie.
Sallies
were made by the Spaniards, but they were beaten in with loss. Bacon.
3.
An excursion from the usual track; range; digression; deviation.
Every one shall know a country better that makes often
sallies
into it, and traverses it up and down, than he that . . . goes still round in the same track. Locke.
4.
A flight of fancy, liveliness, wit, or the like; a flashing forth of a quick and active mind.
The unaffected mirth with which she enjoyed his
sallies
. Sir W. Scott.
5.
Transgression of the limits of soberness or steadiness; act of levity; wild gayety; frolic; escapade.
The excursion was esteemed but a
sally
of youth. Sir H. Wotton.
Sally port
. (a)
(Fort.)
A postern gate, or a passage underground, from the inner to the outer works, to afford free egress for troops in a sortie
. (b)
(Naval)
A large port on each quarter of a fireship, for the escape of the men into boats when the train is fired; a large port in an old-fashioned three-decker or a large modern ironclad.
Webster 1828 Edition
Sally
SAL'LY
,Noun.
1.
An issue or rushing of troops from a besieged place to attack the besiegers.2.
A spring or darting of intellect, fancy or imagination; flight; sprightly exertion. We say, sallies of wit, sallies of imagination.3.
Excursion from the usual track; range.He who often makes sallies into a country, and traverses it up and down, will know it better than one that goes always round in the same track.
4.
Act of levity or extravagance; wild gaiety; frolic; a bounding or darting beyond ordinary rules; as a sally of youth; a sally of levity.SAL'LY
,Verb.
I.
1.
To issue or rush out, as a body of troops from a fortified place to attack besiegers.They break the truce, and sally out by night.
2.
To issue suddenly; to make a sudden eruption.Definition 2024
Sally
Sally
See also: sally
English
Alternative forms
- (as a female given name): Sallie
Proper noun
Sally
- A diminutive of the female given name Sarah, also used as a formal given name.
- 1969, Doris Lessing, The Four-Gated City, Bantam Books (1970), page 114:
- She submitted―for what alternative did she have?―to being Sally in this family, but she always signed herself, Sarah.
- 2008, Stephen King, Just After Sunset, Simon and Schuster (2009), ISBN 1416586652, page 8:
- Maybe her first name was Sally, but David thought he would have remembered a name like that; there were so few Sallys these days. Now the world belonged to Ambers, Ashleys, and Tiffanys.
- 1969, Doris Lessing, The Four-Gated City, Bantam Books (1970), page 114:
- (Britain) A nickname for the Salvation Army
Anagrams
Swedish
Etymology
From English Sally. First recorded as a Swedish given name in 1784.
Proper noun
Sally
- A female given name.
sally
sally
See also: Sally
English
Noun
sally (plural sallies)
Derived terms
- sally rod
Translations
willow — see willow
a willow rod
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Etymology 2
Borrowing from French saillie, from sailli, the past participle of the verb saillir (“to leap forth”), itself from Latin salīre (“to leap”)
Noun
sally (plural sallies)
- A sortie of troops from a besieged place against an enemy.
- A sudden rushing forth.
- (figuratively) A witty statement or quip, usually at the expense of one's interlocutor.
- An excursion or side trip.
- John Locke
- Everyone shall know a country better that makes often sallies into it, and traverses it up and down, than he that […] goes still round in the same track.
- John Locke
- A tufted woollen part of a bellrope, used to provide grip when ringing a bell.
See also
Translations
a sortie
an excursion or side trip
a witty statement or quip
Verb
sally (third-person singular simple present sallies, present participle sallying, simple past and past participle sallied)
- (intransitive) To make a sudden attack on an enemy from a defended position.
- The troops sallied in desperation.
- (intransitive) To set out on an excursion; venture; depart (often followed by "forth.")
- As she sallied forth from her boudoir, you would never have guessed how quickly she could strip for action. -William Manchester
- (intransitive) To venture off the beaten path.
Translations
to make a sudden attack from defended position
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to set out on an excursion
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to venture off the beaten path
Etymology 3
From salvation in Salvation Army, from Latin salvatio
Noun
sally (plural sallies)
- (New Zealand, slang) A member of the Salvation Army.
Synonyms
- Salvo