Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SAL'LY, n. [Fr. saillie; It. salita; Sp. salida; Port. sahida. 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. – Bacon.
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. – Locke.
4. Act of levity or extravagance; wild gayety; frolick; a bounding or darting beyond ordinary rules; as, a sally of youth; a sally of levity. – Wotton. Swift.