Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for sally on Thesaurus.com 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. Show More
verb (used without object), sal·lied, sal·ly·ing. 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. Show More
Origin of sally 1535–45; < Middle French saillie attack, noun use of feminine past participle of saillir to rush forward < Latin salīre to leap
Related forms sal·li·er , noun out·sal·ly , verb (used with object), out·sal·lied, out·sal·ly·ing. un·sal·ly·ing , adjective a female given name, form of Sarah . Show More
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for sally Contemporary Examples of sally KSM enters the complex through a “Sally Port,” a series of gates designed to allow just one vehicle in at a time.
Just try to find a mention of Sally Hemings at the Jefferson Memorial.
Sally Beauty did not respond for comment by the time this article was published.
Sally Beauty has also partnered with Susan G. Komen to sell special pink cosmetic products.
My father lost his last surviving sibling, my Aunt Sally , in 2007.
Historical Examples of sally The laughter at this sally was all it should have been, even the host joining in it.
Gray Peter had been fresher than Sally at the end of the run of the day before.
All in all, Gray Peter was a glorious machine; Sally was a tricky intelligence.
Gray Peter's heart was never in doubt, but what would Sally 's courage be in a pinch?
If Andrew had let out Sally she would have walked away from them all, but he dared not do that.
British Dictionary definitions for sally 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 Show More
verb -lies , -lying or -lied (intr) 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 Show More
Derived Forms sallier , noun Word Origin for sally C16: from Old French saillie, from saillir to dash forwards, from Latin salīre to leap
the lower part of a bell rope, where it is caught at handstroke, into which coloured wool is woven to make a grip Show More
Word Origin for sally C19: perhaps from an obsolete or dialect sense of sally 1 leaping movement
a member of the Salvation Army Show More
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for 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.
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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.
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v. 1540s, from sally (n.). Related: Sallied ; sallying .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
