— sallier , n.
/sal"ee/ , n. , pl. sallies , v. , sallied, sallying .
n.
1. a sortie of troops from a besieged place upon an enemy.
2. a sudden rushing forth or activity.
3. an excursion or trip, usually off the main course.
4. an outburst or flight of passion, fancy, etc.: a sally of anger.
5. a clever, witty, or fanciful remark.
6. Carpentry. a projection, as of the end of a rafter beyond the notch by which the rafter is fitted over the wall plate.
v.i.
7. to make a sally, as a body of troops from a besieged place.
8. to set out on a side trip or excursion.
9. to set out briskly or energetically.
10. (of things) to issue forth.
[ 1535-45; saillie attack, n. use of fem. ptp. of saillir to rush forward salire to leap ]
Syn. 5. quip, witticism.