English word origin

Etymology of sally

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

4 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 4 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗

noun

A willow. · Any tree that resembles a willow. · An object made from the wood of a willow.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

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

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inherited-form mentionsalyenm
Inherited-form mentionsaliġang

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "saly"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English saly"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
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        "2": "ang",
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      },
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      "saly",
      "saly#Middle_English"
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    ],
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    ],
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗

verb

To make a sudden attack (e.g. on an enemy from a defended position). · To set out on an excursion; venture; depart (often followed by "forth"). · To venture off the beaten path.

noun

A sortie of troops from a besieged place against an enemy. · A sudden rushing forth. · A witty statement or quip, usually at the expense of one's interlocutor. · An excursion or side trip.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

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

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Root classification mention*sel-ine-pro
Borrowed-form mentionsailliefr
Derivation mentionsaliola

This page abbreviates 1 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    },
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    },
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      "saillir#French"
    ],
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      "salīre",
      "salio#Latin"
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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗

noun

A member of the Salvation Army.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *solh₂-der. Proto-Italic *sal(V)wos Latin salvus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin salvō Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin salvātiō Old French salvacionbor. Middle English savacioun English salvation Proto-Germanic *-j-, *-ij- Proto-West Germanic *-i, *-ī Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English sally From salvation + -y.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *solh₂-der.\nProto-Italic *sal(V)wos\nLatin salvus\nProto-Indo-European *-h₂\nProto-Indo-European *-éh₂\nProto-Indo-European *-yéti\nProto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti\nProto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu.\nProto-Italic *-ājō\nProto-Italic *-āō\nLatin -ō\nLatin salvō\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *-Hō\nProto-Indo-European *-tiHō\nProto-Italic *-tiō\nLatin -tiō\nLatin salvātiō\nOld French salvacionbor.\nMiddle English savacioun\nEnglish salvation\nProto-Germanic *-j-, *-ij-\nProto-West Germanic *-i, *-ī\nOld English -iġ\nMiddle English -y\nEnglish -y\nEnglish sally\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"safe\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"safe\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ 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\"lang\" : \"en\" }, { \"id\" : \"diminutive\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"diminutive\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"diminutive\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*-i, *-ī\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*-j-, *-ij-\", \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-j-\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-i\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"-iġ\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-y\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", 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  "links": [
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      "*solh₂-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/solh₂-"
    ],
    [
      "*sal(V)wos",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Italic/sal(V)wos#Proto-Italic:_safe"
    ],
    [
      "salvus",
      "salvus#Latin:_safe"
    ],
    [
      "*-h₂",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-h₂#Proto-Indo-European:_collective_nouns"
    ],
    [
      "*-éh₂",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-éh₂#Proto-Indo-European:_collective_nouns"
    ],
    [
      "*-yéti",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-yéti#Proto-Indo-European:_intransitive_verbs"
    ],
    [
      "*-eh₂yéti",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-eh₂yéti#Proto-Indo-European:_suf"
    ],
    [
      "*-h₂ti",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-h₂ti"
    ],
    [
      "*-āō",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Italic/-āō#Proto-Italic:_suf"
    ],
    [
      "-ō",
      "-o#Latin:_denominative"
    ],
    [
      "salvō",
      "salvo#Latin"
    ],
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      "*-tis",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-tis"
    ],
    [
      "*-Hō",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-Hō"
    ],
    [
      "*-tiō",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Italic/-tiō"
    ],
    [
      "-tiō",
      "-tio#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "salvātiō",
      "salvatio#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "salvacion",
      "salvacion#Old_French"
    ],
    [
      "savacioun",
      "savacioun#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "salvation",
      "salvation#English"
    ],
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      "*-j-, *-ij-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/-j-"
    ],
    [
      "*-i, *-ī",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/-i"
    ],
    [
      "-iġ",
      "-ig#Old_English:_diminutive"
    ],
    [
      "-y",
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    ],
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    ],
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Source etymology 4

Original entry ↗

noun

A kind of stonefly. · A wren.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Unknown.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for sally →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-c2FsbHk