\Sal"ly\ (s[a^]l"l[y^]), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sallied}
(-l[i^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Sallying}.] [F. saillir, fr. L.
salire to leap, spring, akin to Gr. "a`llesqai; cf. Skr.
s[.r] to go, to flow. Cf. {Salient}, {Assail}, {Assault},
{Exult}, {Insult}, {Saltation}, {Saltire}.]
To leap or rush out; to burst forth; to issue suddenly; as a
body of troops from a fortified place to attack besiegers; to
make a sally.
      They break the truce, and sally out by night. --Dryden.
      The foe retires, -- she heads the sallying host.
                                               --Byron.

\Sal"ly\, n.; pl. {Sallies}. [F. saillie, fr. saillir. See
Sally, v.]
1. A leaping forth; a darting; a spring.
2. A rushing or bursting forth; a quick issue; a sudden
   eruption; specifically, an issuing of troops from a place
   besieged to attack the besiegers; a sortie.
         Sallies were made by the Spaniards, but they were
         beaten in with loss.                  --Bacon.
3. An excursion from the usual track; range; digression;
   deviation.
         Every one shall know a country better that makes
         often sallies into it, and traverses it up and down,
         than he that . . . goes still round in the same
         track.                                --Locke.
4. A flight of fancy, liveliness, wit, or the like; a
   flashing forth of a quick and active mind.
         The unaffected mirth with which she enjoyed his
         sallies.                              --Sir W.
                                               Scott.
5. Transgression of the limits of soberness or steadiness;
   act of levity; wild gayety; frolic; escapade.
         The excursion was esteemed but a sally of youth.
                                               --Sir H.
                                               Wotton.
{Sally port}.
   (a) (Fort.) A postern gate, or a passage underground, from
       the inner to the outer works, to afford free egress
       for troops in a sortie.
   (b) (Naval) A large port on each quarter of a fireship,
       for the escape of the men into boats when the train is
       fired; a large port in an old-fashioned three-decker
       or a large modern ironclad.