Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

salvo1

[sal-voh]
See more synonyms for salvo on Thesaurus.com
noun, plural sal·vos, sal·voes.
  1. a simultaneous or successive discharge of artillery, bombs, etc.
  2. a round of fire given as a salute.
  3. a round of cheers or applause.
Show More

Origin of salvo1

1585–95; earlier salva < Italian ≪ Latin salvē salve3

salvo2

[sal-voh]
noun, plural sal·vos. Archaic.
  1. an excuse or quibbling evasion.
  2. something to save a person's reputation or soothe a person's feelings.
Show More

Origin of salvo2

1635–45; < Latin salvō, ablative of salvus safe, found in legal phrases
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for salvo

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • There never was a rogue, who had not a salvo to himself for being so.

    Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • Beyond the Po they too had been awaiting the salvo of artillery that should be their signal to advance.

    The Strolling Saint

    Raphael Sabatini

  • There was also no indication that Hoddy's salvo had had any effect on them.

    Lone Star Planet

    Henry Beam Piper and John Joseph McGuire

  • (p. 419) A salvo of profanity from the train crew followed them.

  • In your presence I can do so without departing from my principles, salvo pudoribus.

British Dictionary definitions for salvo

salvo1

noun plural -vos or -voes
  1. a discharge of fire from weapons in unison, esp on a ceremonial occasion
  2. concentrated fire from many weapons, as in a naval battle
  3. an outburst, as of applause
Show More

Word Origin

C17: from Italian salva, from Old French salve, from Latin salvē! greetings! from salvēre to be in good health, from salvus safe

salvo2

noun plural -vos rare
  1. an excuse or evasion
  2. an expedient to save a reputation or soothe hurt feelings
  3. (in legal documents) a saving clause; reservation
Show More

Word Origin

C17: from such Medieval Latin phrases as salvō iurē the right of keeping safe, from Latin salvus safe

Salvo

noun plural -vos
  1. Australian slang a member of the Salvation Army
Show More
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 salvo

n.

1719, alteration of salva (1590s) "simultaneous discharge of guns," from Italian salva "salute, volley" (cf. French salve, 16c., from Italian), from Latin salve "hail!," literally "be in good health!," the usual Roman greeting, regarded as imperative of salvere "to be in good health," but properly vocative of salvus "healthy" (see safe (adj.)). The notion is of important visitors greeted with a volley of gunfire into the air; applied afterward to any concentrated fire from guns.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper