sally

Where does the word "sally" come from? It comes from Latin salire, passing through Old French before entering English (1500s).

Sally’s story begins in Latin: salire meant “to jump, to leap.” A 'sally port' is a castle gate for launching attacks. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as saillir. Carried into French for rushing forward suddenly, as in a military charge. It reached English by 1500s as sally. Settled as the English word for a sudden charge from a defended position, or a witty remark. Today, sally means a sudden rushing attack, or a witty or lively remark.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient salire "to jump, to leap", a 'sally port' is a castle gate for launching attacks.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval saillir "to rush forward suddenly", carried into French for rushing forward suddenly, as in a military charge.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s sally "a sudden charge from a defended position, or a witty remark", settled as the English word for a sudden charge from a defended position, or a witty remark.