Skip navigation.

sally - What does it mean?

Definition of 'sally'

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) saly, from (etyl) . More at (l).

Noun

(sallies)
  • A willow
  • Any tree that looks like a willow
  • An object made from the above trees' wood
    • Derived terms
    * sally rod

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) saillie, from sailli, the past participle of the verb saillir 'to leap forth', itself from (etyl) salire 'to leap'

    Noun

    (sallies)
  • A sortie of troops from a besieged place against an enemy.
  • A sudden rushing forth.
  • (figuratively) A witty statement or quip, usually at the expense of one's interlocutor.
  • * {{quote-news
    • |year=2012 |date=April 26 |author=Tasha Robinson |title=Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits : |work=The Onion AV Club citation |page= |passage=The stakes are low and the story beats are incidental amid the rush of largely mild visual gags and verbal sallies like “Blood Island! So called because it’s the exact shape of some blood!” }}
  • An excursion or side trip.
  • * John Locke
    • Everyone 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.
  • A tufted woollen part of a bellrope, used to provide grip when ringing a bell.
    • See also
    * sally port

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To make a sudden attack on an enemy from a defended position.
    • The troops sallied in desperation.
  • To set out on an excursion; venture; depart (often followed by "forth.")
    • As she sallied forth from her boudoir, you would never have guessed how quickly she could strip for action. -William Manchester
  • To venture off the beaten path.

    • Etymology 3

    From salvation in Salvation Army, from (etyl) salvatio

    Noun

    (sallies)
  • (New Zealand|slang) A member of the Salvation Army.
    • Synonyms
    * Salvo

    Anagrams

    * *

    Similar to 'sally'

    silly, slay, scaly, scally, sully, shyly, salley, seely, skully, skelly, shelly, shaly, shaley, skeely, solly, skilly, soily, shily, saily, sley, shoaly, solwy, scowly, selly, soly, scaley, sheely, scholy