sortie
UK: ˈsɔːti | US: ˈsɔːrti
n. a sudden attack or movement of troops from a defensive position
n. a short trip or mission, especially by a military aircraft
n. a brief excursion or foray into an activity or place
The word "sortie" originates from French, where "sortir" means "to go out" or "depart." It entered English in the 18th century, initially describing military maneuvers where troops would "go out" from a fortified position to attack. Over time, it expanded to include any brief excursion or mission, particularly in aviation. The morpheme "sort" preserves the original French root, while "-ie" acts as a noun-forming suffix typical in French borrowings.
The soldiers prepared for a nighttime sortie against the enemy camp.
The fighter jets completed three sorties before returning to base.
She made a quick sortie into the city to buy supplies.
The submarine’s sortie lasted 12 hours before it resurfaced.
His sortie into politics was brief but impactful.