sally
- a sortie of troops from a besieged place upon an enemy.
- a sudden rushing forth or activity.
- an excursion or trip, usually off the main course.
- an outburst or flight of passion, fancy, etc.: a sally of anger.
- a clever, witty, or fanciful remark.
- Carpentry. a projection, as of the end of a rafter beyond the notch by which the rafter is fitted over the wall plate.
- to make a sally, as a body of troops from a besieged place.
- to set out on a side trip or excursion.
- to set out briskly or energetically.
- (of things) to issue forth.
Origin of sally
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words
flyquitmoveretirestartwithdrawescapegofleedisappearbombplunderrobassaultbombardblockadeharassransackstormlootExamples from the Web for sallied
Historical Examples
The naked flats were very wide, and we sallied out, with the bridge as our guide.
Ned MyersJames Fenimore Cooper
Then they took up the box between them, and sallied out to meet the mail.
Life And Adventures Of Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens
After breakfast he and Climene sallied forth to take the air upon the quays.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
As they sallied forth, Seuthes rose to accompany them, like the soberest of men.
AnabasisXenophon
At once the Apaches sallied forth from their cover in full cry after him.
When the West Was YoungFrederick R. Bechdolt
sally1
- a sudden violent excursion, esp by besieged forces to attack the besiegers; sortie
- a sudden outburst or emergence into action, expression, or emotion
- an excursion or jaunt
- a jocular retort
- to make a sudden violent excursion
- (often foll by forth) to go out on an expedition, etc
- to come, go, or set out in an energetic manner
- to rush out suddenly
Word Origin
sally2
- the lower part of a bell rope, where it is caught at handstroke, into which coloured wool is woven to make a grip
Word Origin
Sally
- a member of the Salvation Army
Word Origin and History for sallied
sally
n.
1540s, "a sudden rush, dash, or springing forth; specifically of troops from a besieged place, attacking the besiegers," from Middle French saillie "a rushing forth," noun use of fem. past participle of saillir "to leap," from Latin salire "to leap" (see salient (adj.)). Sally-port "gate or passage in a fortification to afford free egress to troops in making a sally" is from 1640s.
Sally
fem. proper name, alteration of Sarah (cf. Hal from Harry, Moll from Mary, etc.). Sally Lunn cakes (1780) supposedly named for the woman in Bath who first made them and sold them in the streets. Sally Ann as a nickname for Salvation Army is recorded from 1927.
sally
v.
1540s, from sally (n.). Related: Sallied; sallying.