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definitions

foray

[ fawr-ey, for-ey ]
/ ˈfɔr eɪ, ˈfɒr eɪ /
||
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noun

a quick raid, usually for the purpose of taking plunder: Vikings made a foray on the port.
a quick, sudden attack: The defenders made a foray outside the walls.
an initial venture: a successful foray into politics.

verb (used without object)

to make a raid; pillage; maraud.
to invade or make one's way, as for profit or adventure: foreign industries foraying into U.S. markets.

verb (used with object)

to ravage in search of plunder; pillage.

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RELATED WORDS

inroad, raid, invasion, descent, irruption, sortie, attack, depredation, reconnaissance, sally

Nearby words

  1. foraminifer,
  2. foraminifera,
  3. foraminiferan,
  4. forasmuch as,
  5. forasmuchas,
  6. forb,
  7. forbad,
  8. forbade,
  9. forbear,
  10. forbearance

Origin of foray

1350–1400; Middle English forraien, apparently by back formation from forrayour, forreour, forrier < Old French forrier, fourrier, equivalent to fo(u)rr(er), derivative of fuerre provender (see forage) + -ier -ier2
Related formsfor·ay·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for foray

British Dictionary definitions for foray

foray

/ (ˈfɒreɪ) /

noun

a short raid or incursion
a first attempt or new undertaking

verb

to raid or ravage (a town, district, etc)
Derived Formsforayer, noun

Word Origin for foray

C14: from forrayen to pillage, from Old French forreier, from forrier forager, from fuerre fodder; see forage
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for foray

foray

n.

late 14c., Scottish, from the verb (14c.), perhaps a back-formation of Middle English forreyer "raider, forager" (mid-14c.), from Old French forrier, from forrer "to forage" (see forage (n.)). Disused by 18c.; revived by Scott.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper