Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A simultaneous discharge of firearms.
- n. The simultaneous release of a rack of bombs from an aircraft.
- n. The projectiles or bombs thus released.
- n. Something resembling a release or discharge of bombs or firearms, as:
- n. A sudden outburst, as of cheers or praise.
- n. A forceful verbal or written assault.
- n. A mental provision or reservation.
- n. Law A saving clause.
- n. An expedient for protecting one's reputation or for soothing one's conscience.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. An exception; a reservation; an excuse; a saving fact or clause.
- n. A general discharge of guns intended as a salute.
- n. A concentrated fire from a greater or less number of pieces of artillery, for the purpose of breaching, etc., the simultaneous concussion of a number of cannon-balls on masonry, or even earthwork, producing a very destructive effect.
- n. The combined shouts or cheers of a multitude, generally expressive of honor, esteem, admiration, etc.: as, salvos of applause.
Wiktionary
- n. An exception; a reservation; an excuse.
- n. A concentrated fire from pieces of artillery, as in endeavoring to make a break in a fortification; a volley.
- n. By extension, any volley, as in an argument or debate.
- n. A salute paid by a simultaneous, or nearly simultaneous, firing of a number of cannon.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. An exception; a reservation; an excuse.
- n. A concentrated fire from pieces of artillery, as in endeavoring to make a break in a fortification; a volley.
- n. A salute paid by a simultaneous, or nearly simultaneous, firing of a number of cannon.
WordNet 3.0
- n. rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
- n. a sudden outburst of cheers
- n. an outburst resembling the discharge of firearms or the release of bombs
Etymologies
- Italian salva, from French salve, from Latin salvē, hail, imperative of salvēre, to be in good health, from salvus, safe; see sol- in Indo-European roots.Latin salvō (as in Medieval Latin salvō iūre, saving the right), ablative of salvus, safe; see safe.
Examples
“The first ammendment remains in force, so my salvo is “Deal with it Tony”.”
Anthony Dias Blue, bloggers, and the exposure package | Dr Vino's wine blog
“Prediction: The next salvo from the McCain camp will reference Obama's vote FOR the "Cheney Energy Bill.”
Obama Responds to McCain Conservation Ad - Swampland - TIME.com
“Already the warning shots have been fired regarding smaller class sizes for P1 to P3 and I can't imagine the salvo is going to let up any time soon.”
“So the last salvo is usually to establish a patent much in the same vein as the anemic Microsoft - in order to stifle competition.”
Smart Mobs » Blog Archive » Blackboard wins patent on e-learning
“Witness this week's opening salvo from the Chinese Iron and Steel Association: If steel prices have fallen back to 1994 levels, why shouldn't the key raw material be cut to the same mark?”
The Wall Street Journal: In Iron Ore Talks, China's the Underdog
“His partner in crime in this opening salvo is J.H. Williams III.”
“Here's the latest salvo from the Bush/Rove campaign against the Democrats.”
“The second burst coincided with the next salvo from the Russians 'Maxim machine gun.”
Panzer Aces
“The A.P. was below when the salvo from the German cruiser struck the ship.”
The Submarine Hunters A Story of the Naval Patrol Work in the Great War
“The latest hate-filled salvo is from Lou Sheldon's Traditional Values Coalition Web site:”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘salvo’.

minerva There never was a rogue, who had not a salvo to himself for being so.
Lovelace to Belford, Clarissa by Samuel Richardson Dec 19, 2007
minerva Archaic: a bad excuse, evasion, quibble. Dec 19, 2007