sally

Etymology 1

From Middle English saly, from Old English saliġ, sealh (“willow”). More at sallow.

noun

1. A willow
2. Any tree that looks like a willow
3. An object made from the above trees' wood

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French saillie, from sailli, the past participle of the verb saillir (“to leap forth”), itself from Latin salīre (“to leap”).

noun

1. A sortie of troops from a besieged place against an enemy.
2. A sudden rushing forth.
   Flocks of these birds stir up flying insects, which can then be picked off in quick sallies.
3. (figurative) A witty statement or quip, usually at the expense of one's interlocutor.
   The stakes are low and the story beats are incidental amid the rush of largely mild visual gags and verbal sallies like “Blood Island! So called because it’s the exact shape of some blood!” April 26, 2012, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits”, in The Onion AV Club
4. An excursion or side trip.
5. A tufted woollen part of a bellrope, used to provide grip when ringing a bell.

verb

1. (intransitive) To make a sudden attack (e.g. on an enemy from a defended position).
   The troops sallied in desperation.
   A feeding strategy of some birds is to sally out from a perch to snatch an insect and then returning to the same or a different perch.
2. (intransitive) To set out on an excursion; venture; depart (often followed by "forth.")
   As she sallied forth from her boudoir, you would never have guessed how quickly she could strip for action. - William Manchester
   Adverse comment begins with uncomplimentary observations on the somewhat harder seats, then reaches a crescendo when it is discovered that the perverse and unhurried train is actually going to wait for another connection which is running late, instead of sallying forth at once for the benefit of those already on board and leaving latecomers stranded. 1942 July-August, “The Country Branch”, in Railway Magazine, page 194
3. (intransitive) To venture off the beaten path.

Etymology 3

salvation + -y

noun

1. (New Zealand, slang) A member of the Salvation Army.

Etymology 4

Unknown.

noun

1. A kind of stonefly.
2. A wren.