SAL'LY, noun [See the Verb.] In a general sense, a spring; a darting or shooting. Hence,

1. An issue or rushing of troops from a besieged place to attack the besiegers.

2. A spring or darting of intellect, fancy or imagination; flight; sprightly exertion. We say, sallies of wit, sallies of imagination.

3. Excursion from the usual track; range.

He who often makes sallies into a country, and traverses it up and down, will know it better than one that goes always round in the same track.

4. Act of levity or extravagance; wild gaiety; frolic; a bounding or darting beyond ordinary rules; as a sally of youth; a sally of levity.

SAL'LY, verb intransitive [Latin salio. Gr. to impel, to shoot. See Solar, from Latin sol. Gr.]

1. To issue or rush out, as a body of troops from a fortified place to attack besiegers.

They break the truce, and sally out by night.

2. To issue suddenly; to make a sudden eruption.