From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Sally \Sal"ly\ (s[a^]l"l[y^]), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sallied}
(-l[i^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Sallying}.] [F. saillir, fr. L.
salire to leap, spring, akin to Gr. "a`llesqai; cf. Skr.
s[.r] to go, to flow. Cf. {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.
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They break the truce, and sally out by night. --Dryden.
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The foe retires, -- she heads the sallying host.
--Byron.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Sally \Sal"ly\, n.; pl. {Sallies}. [F. saillie, fr. saillir. See
Sally, v.]
1. A leaping forth; a darting; a spring.
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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.
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Sallies were made by the Spaniards, but they were
beaten in with loss. --Bacon.
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3. An excursion from the usual track; range; digression;
deviation.
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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. --Locke.
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4. A flight of fancy, liveliness, wit, or the like; a
flashing forth of a quick and active mind.
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The unaffected mirth with which she enjoyed his
sallies. --Sir W.
Scott.
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5. Transgression of the limits of soberness or steadiness;
act of levity; wild gayety; frolic; escapade.
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The excursion was esteemed but a sally of youth.
--Sir H.
Wotton.
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{Sally port}.
(a) (Fort.) A postern gate, or a passage underground, from
the inner to the outer works, to afford free egress
for troops in a sortie.
(b) (Naval) 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.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
sally
n 1: witty remark [syn: {wisecrack}, {crack}, {sally}, {quip}]
2: a military action in which besieged troops burst forth from
their position [syn: {sortie}, {sally}]
3: a venture off the beaten path; "a sally into the wide world
beyond his home" [syn: {sally}, {sallying forth}]
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