A salvo is the firing of several guns or missiles at the same time in a battle or ceremony.
They were to fire a salvo of blanks, after the national anthem. [+ of]
2. countable noun
A salvoof angry words is a lot of them spoken or written at about the same time.
His testimony, however, was only one in a salvo of new attacks. [+ of]
Synonyms: barrage, storm, bombardment, strafe More Synonyms of salvo
salvo in British English1
(ˈsælvəʊ)
nounWord forms: plural-vos or -voes
1.
a discharge of fire from weapons in unison, esp on a ceremonial occasion
2.
concentrated fire from many weapons, as in a naval battle
3.
an outburst, as of applause
Word origin
C17: from Italian salva, from Old French salve, from Latin salvē! greetings! from salvēre to be in good health, from salvus safe
salvo in British English2
(ˈsælvəʊ)
nounWord forms: plural-vos rare
1.
an excuse or evasion
2.
an expedient to save a reputation or soothe hurt feelings
3.
(in legal documents) a saving clause; reservation
Word origin
C17: from such Medieval Latin phrases as salvō iūre the right of keeping safe, from Latin salvus safe
Salvo in British English
(ˈsælvəʊ)
nounWord forms: plural-vos
Australian slang
a member of the Salvation Army
salvo in American English1
(ˈsælvoʊ)
nounWord forms: pluralˈsalvos or ˈsalvoes
1.
a discharge of a number of pieces of artillery or small arms, in regular succession or at the same time, either as a salute or, esp. in naval battles, as a broadside
2.
the release of a load of bombs or the launching of several rockets at the same time
3.
a burst of cheers or applause
Word origin
It salva < L salve, hail, imper. of salvere, to be safe < salvus, safe
salvo in American English2
(ˈsælvoʊ)
nounWord forms: pluralˈsalvos
1.
a dishonest mental reservation; excuse or quibbling evasion
2.
an expedient for saving one's pride or honor
3. Law
a saving clause; reservation
Word origin
< ML legal phr. salvo jure, right being reserved (< L salvus: see safe)
Examples of 'salvo' in a sentence
salvo
Mercedes has fired the first salvo in a battle between luxury car makers.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
These three books are the first salvo in a bombardment that will surely intensify as the anniversary approaches.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This is just the opening salvo of something that is going to get worse over the coming decades.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Some of us standing in front of the Palace flinched when the first salvo was fired.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
After the first salvo of rockets, his men had rallied.
Philip Marsden The Barefoot Emperor: An Ethiopian Tragedy (2007)
Yet he took just four minutes and 15 seconds to fire an opening salvo.
The Sun (2011)
It's the first salvo in what is going to be a long, rough battle.
The Sun (2016)
The one certainty is that the result of his absurd scheme will be another salvo of media stories of Home Office incompetence.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
BRITISH GAS has fired the first salvo in what looks set to be a fierce energy price war.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
(noun)
Definition
a simultaneous discharge of guns in battle or on a ceremonial occasion
His testimony was only one in a salvo of new attacks.
Synonyms
barrage
a barrage of anti-aircraft fire
storm
a storm of missiles
bombardment
The city has been flattened by regular artillery bombardments.
strafe
cannonade
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bombardment
The city has been flattened by regular artillery bombardments.