▪ I. salvo, n.1
(ˈsælvəʊ)
[a. L. salvō, abl. neut. sing. of salvus uninjured, intact, safe a., as occurring in med.L. law phrases like salvo servicio forinseco, ‘foreign service excepted’, salvo jure (jūre abl. sing. of jūs right) ‘without prejudice to the right of’ (some specified person).]
1. A saving clause; a provision that a certain engagement or ordinance shall not be binding where it would interfere with a specified right or obligation; a reservation. Const. of, † to (a right, etc.).
| 1642 tr. Perkins' Prof. Bk. x. §650 (1657) 241 In this case, this Salvo shall make the Donee to hold of the Donor by Knights service. 1647 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. xli. (1739) 68 In case any one died intestate, the Children should equally divide the Goods; which I take to be understood with a salvo of the Wife's Dower or Portion. 1648 Eikon Bas. xiv. 114 They admit anie man's senses of it, though divers, or contrarie; with anie salvo's, cautions and reservations. 1655 Clarke Papers (Camden) III. 22 If they could propose any expedient with a salvo to the security of that Nation, hee was willinge to answer their desires therein. 1667 Waterhouse Fire Lond. 172 Neither let the condition of Books..and Records burnt or lost, be unprovided for by some Good and Grave Salvo, pleadable for the Loosers Indempnitie. 1716 Addison Freeholder No. 53 ¶7 However any one may concur,..it is still..with a Salvo to his own private Judgment. 1754 Hume Hist. Eng. (1761) I. viii. 176 In these words was virtually implied a salvo for the rights of their order. 1819 J. Milner End Relig. Controv. (ed. 2) 100 Judges have even refused to admit the following Salvo in addition to the Subscription. 1826 C. Butler Life Grotius vi. 105 With an express salvo of their right to liberty of conscience. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. ix. II. 532 He..wished to find out some salvo which might sooth his conscience. 1865 Bushnell Vicar. Sacr. (1868) 109 A qualification, or salvo, that very nearly unchristianizes Christianity itself. 1875 Stubbs Const. Hist. II. xiv. 155 It contained a salvo of the rights of the nation. |
† b. Reservation of a point in dispute. Obs.
| a 1644 Laud Troub. & Trial (1695) 274 Here I desired a Salvo, till I might bring Arch-Bishop Parker's Book, to shew his Judgment in this Point. |
2. In unfavourable sense: A dishonest mental reservation; a quibbling evasion; a consciously bad excuse.
| 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 166 Within Spahawn I found that Column or Pillar of Heads of Men and Beasts which was erected as a Salvo and expiation of the King's Oath. 1677 Gilpin Demonol. (1867) 78 Some pitiful salvo or silly evasion to blind the eyes. 1699 Bentley Phal. xiv. 479 This looks now like a Salvo to come off with Mr. B. and to reconcile the New Piece and the Old together; but it's perfectly a Banter upon him. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 73 ¶12 The new Salvo to satisfy a Man's Conscience in sacrificing his Friend. a 1711 Ken Hymnotheo Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 80 He flatt'ry hated, Counsel well could time, And never studied Salvos for a crime. 1718 Hickes & Nelson J. Kettlewell iii. xliv. 299 Most also did seem bent to take up with any Shift or Salvo, which might ease them of such Duties. 1747 Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. xxxv. 261 There never was a rogue who had not a salvo to himself for being so. 1757 J. Edwards Orig. Sin (1837) II. ii. i. 135 This evasion of Salvo is so far from helping the matter, or salving the inconsistence, that it increases and multiplies it. 1809 Malkin Gil Blas x. x. (Rtldg.) 369 My tongue gave consent; but with a salvo in my heart..to give him the slip just at the moment of embarkation. 1828 J. W. Croker Diary 26 Aug., Some new attempt on his part to find a salvo for staying in office. 1858 Merivale Rom. Emp. liv. (1865) VI. 400 For all the iniquities he himself practised, he had no doubt a salvo in his own breast. |
† b. under the salvo of: on pretext of. Obs.
| 1705 tr. Bosman's Guinea 471 After having taken our Leaves under the Salvoe of a chearful Glass, we weighed Anchor. |
† 3. A solution, explanation (of a difficulty), an answer (to an objection). Obs.
| 1659 Gentl. Calling viii. §25 Let not men therefore pretend the fear of reproach, as an excuse, since here is so ready a salvo for that objection. 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. 305 Some of the ancient and learned Fathers..apprehended this to be a convenient Salvo for this Difficulty, to suppose that Orpheus had by Fits and Turns, been of different Humours and Perswasions. 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. p. cii, Great men are are like the heavenly bodies that find much veneration but no rest, unless we find a Salvo for their having the latter, by saying what the Philosophers do of the Heavens, that Movendo quiescunt. 1770 Foote Lame Lover ii. Wks. 1799 II. 71 Jack. But then how comes the note to remain in plaintiff's possession? Serj. Well put, Jack; but we have a salvo for that. |
4. An expedient for saving (a person's reputation) or soothing (offended pride, conscience).
Cf. obs. F. salve-d'honneur, and the med.L. phrase salvo honore.
| 1754 Richardson Grandison (1781) III. xvii. 138 Lady L...cannot help throwing in a salvo for the pride of her Sex. 1771 Junius Lett. xlii. (1820) 221 As a salvo for his own reputation, he has been advised to traduce the character of a brave officer. 1778 Ann. Reg., Hist. Europe 64 The minister was humorously advised, as the only means of extricating himself from that dilemma, and as affording the only salvo in his power for the indignity offered to that House, to impeach those ministers. 1784 J. Barry in Lect. Paint. v. (1848) 180 This account of the matter affords the most favourable salvo for their reputation. 1792 Anecd. W. Pitt xxxix. (1810) II. 184 The only object of the present negotiation is to find a salvo for the punctilious honour of the Spaniards. 1855 Motley Dutch Rep. v. ii. (1866) 678 This would be a salvo for the disgrace of removing them. 1874 H. R. Reynolds John Bapt. viii. 513 The law..is transformed into a salvo to conscience, by which others are condemned rather than self rectified. |
▪ II. salvo, n.2
(ˈsælvəʊ)
In 6 salva.
[Originally salva, a. It. salva (whence F. salve) = Sp., Pg. salva salutation, salvo, perh. a Common Rom. formation on L. salvē hail! (see safe a.).
The change from -a to -o in the ending of words from It., Sp., and Pg. is common: cf. -ado.]
1. A salute consisting in the simultaneous discharge of artillery or other firearms.
| 1719 D'Urfey Pills (1872) III. 347 Display the Standard, let the News be shown, With Salvos raise the Genius of the Town. 1815 J. Scott Vis. Paris App. (ed. 2) 319 Salvoes of artillery were fired on the evening of the 24th to announce the commencement of the fête. 1834 E. Everett Orations & Sp. (1850) I. 522 When your cannons proclaimed his advent with joyous salvos. 1852 Thackeray Esmond ii. ix, Salvos of cannon saluting him. 1860 Motley Netherl. (1868) II. xix. 485 Those ships of Spain, which lay there,..discharging salvoes of anticipated triumph. |
| attrib. 1808 Scott Marm. i. iv, And, from the platform, spare ye not To fire a noble salvo-shot. |
2. a. A simultaneous discharge of artillery or other firearms, whether with hostile intent or otherwise.
The earliest sense in Eng.; it was developed already in Italian.
| 1591 Garrard's Art Warre 11 If..his company be commanded to discharge certain volies of shot, or a salua, he must either hold his Peece side-long the ranckes, or [etc.]. 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 569 As we found them [the enemy] within Gun-shot, our Leader ordered the two Wings to advance swiftly and give them a Salvo on each Wing with their Shot. 1826 Scott Woodst. xvii, After bursting their gates with a salvo of our cannon. 1828 J. M. Spearman Brit. Gunner (ed. 2) 83 Occasionally firing salvoes at the part to be brought down. 1879 J. C. Fife-Cookson Armies of Balkans viii. 124 The Russians..were firing salvoes by batteries of eight guns. 1902 ‘Linesman’ Words Eyewitness 93 When a movement of men was discernible on the ridge, a salvo was discharged, and the blow..would alter the shape of the rocks before our very eyes. |
b. transf.
[Cf. F. salve d'applaudissements, etc.]
| a 1734 North Exam. iii. vii. §95 (1740) 578 All which was performed with fitting Salvos of the Rabble echoed from the Club. 1845 E. Holmes Mozart 277 Amidst deafening salvos of applause. 1860 Hawthorne Marb. Faun xlix, The fair occupants of the balcony favored Kenyon with a salvo of confetti. 1875 G. Jacque Hope, etc. ii. 16 Peals of laughter break out here and there The dread sardonic salvos of despair. 1895 Zangwill Master ii. viii. 221 A great round of applause from their ranks set everybody peering towards the door, only to encounter the stern gaze of the magnificent beadle, whose entry had prompted the salvoes. 1924 ‘W. Frank’ (title) Salvos, an informal book about books and plays. 1955 Times 26 May 4/3 It [sc. a broadsheet] was intended to be the ‘hush-hush’ weapon, which by triumphant revelation at the last moment and, by its powerful propaganda salvo, would bring to submission any wavering voters still about. 1971 Daily Tel. (Colour Suppl.) 21 May 18/3 They can stay on deck,..watch salvoes of gannets plummet in white streaks to the sea. 1977 W. M. Spackman Armful of Warm Girl 43 He bought her the Hindu nose-jewel..and gently slipped it on (which with little salvoes of apologetic kisses she had at once slipped off, and never worn again). |
c. Of rockets, etc.
| 1799 [G. Smith] Laboratory I. 38 Of Salvo's. These, in fire-works, are a great number of strong iron reports, fixed either in a post or plank, and, with a fire, discharged at once. 1895 Funk's Standard Dict. s.v., A salvo of rockets. |
d. Of bombs dropped from aircraft.
| 1942 R.A.F. Jrnl. 27 June 36 A..change of course saved the ship from a direct hit from the salvo dropped by the leading aircraft. 1949 Sun (Baltimore) 17 Oct. 1/5 These loads are dropped either in ‘chain’ (a trail of bombs, blasting out a path between two and three miles long) or in ‘salvo’, where the scores of 500-pounders tumble out of the bays together in an ‘area’ bombing operation. |
† 3. A salutation or salute. Obs. rare.
| 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xxiv. 89 Whereupon with great devotion and zeal we sung a Salvo, before an image of Our Lady. 1755 Mem. Capt. P. Drake II. viii. 218 Whenever an Opportunity offered, to..meet her in the Street, I would give her a Hat Salvo, with a low Bow. |
▪ III. ˈsalvo, v.
[f. salvo n.2]
trans. To salute (a vessel, etc.) by firing of a salvo or volley of guns; to drop a salvo of (bombs). Also transf.
| 1839 Marryat Phant. Ship viii, See the gunners ready with their linstocks to salvo the supercargo. 1895 H. G. Hutchinson Peter Steele, Cricketer vii. 155 He had just made his century, and been salvoed with applause. 1943 Yank 17 Dec. 5 The pilot feathered the props and kept on; the Fort limped in over the target and salvoed its bombs. |
▪ IV. ‖ ˈsalvo, prep. rare—1.
[L. salvō: see salvo n.1]
Excepting, saving.
| 1601 A. C[opley] Answ. Let. Jesuited Gentl. 19 Let them either yet make amends..or else be sure that they sit fast; for that (saluo the Appeale) they are like to carrie as good as they bring. |