sally

Everyday

1. (a name) Sally is a girl's name. tree →
2. (old, war) A sally is a sudden attack by soldiers rushing out from a castle or town that is under siege. tree →
3. (literary) A sally is a quick, witty remark. tree →
4. (verb) To sally forth is to set out boldly, often jokingly. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons a sally is a castle attack; in stories, characters «sally forth» on adventures; «Aunt Sally» is an old fairground game. Phrases: sally forth, sally port.

Examples

• Sally is my best friend. tree →
• The knights made a sally from the castle. tree →
• We sallied forth to the shops. tree →
• His sally made everyone laugh. tree →
• The sally port was a small castle door. tree →
• Sally walked her dog in the park. tree →
• ‘Wasp’s-nest, Wasp’s-nest, make a sally, Or Drakestail nevermore may rally.’ tree →

Note

As a name, capital S. Past: sallied. «Sally forth» is old-fashioned and often jokey.