Sally
Sally (sal"ly) , intransitive verb
[French saillir, from Latin salire to leap, spring, akin to Greek "a`llesqai; compare Sanskrit sr to go, to flow. Compare 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.
The foe retires, -- she heads the sallying host.
Sally (#) , noun
[French saillie, from saillir. See Sally, v.]
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.
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.
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.
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.
Collocations (1)
Sally port (Fortification) , A postern gate, or a passage underground, from the inner to the outer works, to afford free egress for troops in a sortie 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.