A sudden attack or charge from a besieged place; or a combat mission by military aircraft.
From French 'sortie' meaning 'exit' or 'departure,' from 'sortir' (to go out). The word was adopted into English during the age of warfare and siege tactics.
A 'sortie' originally meant when trapped soldiers made a desperate rush out from their fortress—it's literally a 'way out' that became a military term. Modern fighter pilots still use this medieval siege word for their combat missions!
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