SALLY

n. & v. (pl. -ies) --n. 1 a sudden charge from a fortification upon its besiegers; a sortie. 2 a going forth; an excursion. 3 a witticism; a piece of banter; a lively remark esp. by way of attack upon a person or thing or of a diversion in argument. 4 a sudden start into activity; an outburst. 5 archaic an escapade. --v.intr. (-ies, -ied) 1 (usu. foll. by out, forth) go for a walk, set out on a journey etc. 2 (usu. foll. by out) make a military sally. 3 archaic issue or come out suddenly. øsally-port an opening in a fortification for making a sally from. [F saillie fem. past part. of saillir issue f. OF salir f. L salire leap]