Salvo

/ˈsælvəʊ/ · noun

Meaning

An exception; a reservation; an excuse..

Definitions by Sense

1. An exception; a reservation; an excuse.
2. (military) A concentrated fire from pieces of artillery, as in endeavoring to make a break in a fortification; a volley.
3. A salute paid by a simultaneous, or nearly simultaneous, firing of a number of cannon.
4. (by extension) Any volley, as in an argument or debate.
5. The combined cheers of a crowd.
6. (ambitransitive) To discharge weapons in a salvo.

Example Sentences

1649, Charles I of England (attributed), Eikon Basilike They admit […] salvos, cautions, and reservations.

“Regard not that, my brother,” answered Magdalen Græme; “the first successors of Saint Peter himself, were elected not in sunshine but in tempests—not in the halls of the Vatican, but in the subterranean vaults and dungeons of Heathen Rome—they were not gratulated with shouts and salvos of cannon-shot and of musquetry, and the display of artificial fire—no, my brother—but by the hoarse summons of Lictors and Prætors, who came to drag the Fathers of the Church to martyrdom.[…]”

It was an impressive opening salvo from the Baggies, especially for a side that have made a poor beginning to what has been an admittedly tough start to their campaign.

Together, Johnson's plans mean that the clashes in parliament and the Supreme Court may be only the opening salvos in what promises to be the biggest constitutional storm in centuries.

Synonyms for salvo

Antonyms for salvo

Related Words

Word Forms

• salvos
• salvoes
• salvoing
• salvoed

Usage Notes

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