Sallying forth from France? It’s a rush
QUESTION Why do we ‘sally’ forth? LIKE many military terms, this has its origins in French. Most were brought to English through the Normans or during the Hundred Years War (1337–1453) which was fought on French soil by English and Welsh soldiers.
In this sense ‘sally’ originates in the Old French word salir, meaning ‘to leap’. It was a sudden rush made by soldiers, intended to swamp the enemy’s defences. The term is also found in ‘sally port’, a small, often hidden door, gate or passage in a castle wall, through which a covert attack (two more military words with French origins) could be mounted. Porte is the French word for ‘door’.
An example of a sally port can be seen in Edinburgh. Above the rock at the western end of Edinburgh Castle a small door can be seen, which allows access to a narrow path leading around the rock. The area of the city below this door is known as the West Port, and has nothing to do with the sea.
Another linked word with Old French origins is portcullis, a heavy grating that can be lowered down to block a gateway.
Some other French military terms that have been incorporated into the English language are: commander, conquer, defence, castle, armour, enemy, battle and billet. Soldiers have to march, from the French marcher, meaning to walk. Bob Cubitt, Northampton,
Northamptonshire. What is the origin of the term ‘bucket list’, used to describe a number of experiences a person hopes to have during their lifetime? FURTHER to the earlier answer, while the term may only date from 2007, it is probably derived from the older term ‘kick the bucket’.
Most etymologists agree the original ‘bucket’ was a yoke used to hold pigs by their heels for slaughter. Their death throes created the impression they were ‘kicking the bucket’.
The derivation is either from Old French buquet (a balance), or the fact that the raising of the yoke on a pulley resembled a bucket being lifted from a well. The term dates from at least the 16th century. T. White, York, North Yorkshire.