sal·ly (s?l??)intr.v. sal·lied, sal·ly·ing, sal·lies 1. To rush out or leap forth suddenly: a bird that sallies out from a branch to catch flying insects.2. To issue suddenly from a defensive or besieged position to attack an enemy.3. To set out on a trip or excursion: sallied forth to see the world.n. pl. sal·lies 1. A sudden rush forward or leap.2. An assault from a defensive position; a sortie.3. A sudden effort toward action or expression: “[She] kept up a sally of brilliant but doomed attempts at conversation” (Donna Tartt).4. A sudden quick witticism; a quip.5. A venturing forth; a jaunt.[From French saillie, a sally, from Old French, from feminine past participle of salir, to rush forward, from Latin sal?re, to leap; see sel- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.sally (?sæl?) n, pl -lies1. (Military) a sudden violent excursion, esp by besieged forces to attack the besiegers; sortie2. a sudden outburst or emergence into action, expression, or emotion3. an excursion or jaunt4. a jocular retortvb (intr) , -lies, -lying or -lied5. (Military) to make a sudden violent excursion6. (often foll by forth) to go out on an expedition, etc7. to come, go, or set out in an energetic manner8. to rush out suddenly[C16: from Old French saillie, from saillir to dash forwards, from Latin sal?re to leap] ?sallier nsally (?sæl?) n, pl -lies (Music, other) the lower part of a bell rope, where it is caught at handstroke, into which coloured wool is woven to make a grip[C19: perhaps from an obsolete or dialect sense of sally1 leaping movement]Sally (?sæl?) n, pl -lies (Protestantism) a member of the Salvation ArmyCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014sal?ly (?sæl i) n., pl. -lies, n. 1. a sortie of troops from a besieged place against an enemy. 2. a sudden rushing forth. 3. an excursion or side trip. 4. an outburst of passion, flight of fancy, etc. 5. a witty remark; quip. v.i. 6. to make a sally, as a body of troops from a besieged place. 7. to set out, as on an excursion; venture (often fol. by forth). 8. to rush or burst out. [1535?45;