sally English · revision 10698

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1542|origins=frm saillie|origins=la salire}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsæl.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|saillie|t=a rushing forth]], the noun use of the feminine past participle of saillir, to leap,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin salīre, to leap (see [[salient]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) cognate with Greek hállesthai, to leap.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A place from which a sudden attack is made: 1542, now obsolete;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) a sudden rush out of a besieged place against the enemy, 1560.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, to make a sally, is from 1560, the 1540s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) A sudden start into activity is from 1605,^(OED 1989) and an excursion or outing from 1657.^(OED 1989) Figuratively it was used in the 17th century of spiritual matters and in the 18th of wit,^(Etymonline) giving the sense of a witty remark.^(Hoad 1986)^(AHD) The ''sally port'', a gate in a fortification for troops making a sally, is from the 1640s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1542 – a place for sallies.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1560 – a sortie; to sally (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1605 – a sudden start.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1640s – sally port.^(Etymonline)

+ * 18th century – a witty remark.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sudden rush out from a defensive position to attack; a [[sortie]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sudden outburst of action or feeling.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A witty or lively remark; a [[quip]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A short trip or outing.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To rush out suddenly, especially to attack.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To set out on a trip, with ''forth''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sallier]]

+ * [[outsally]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[salient]]

+ * [[assail]]

+ * [[assault]]

+ * [[sauté]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Britain, the Sally or Sally Army is an informal name for the Salvation Army,^(Collins 2023) an alteration of salvation according to the NODE, probably from the name Sally according to Merriam-Webster.^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}