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DictionarysortieMilitary mission
noun / verb

sortie

SOR-tee/ˈsɔːrti/

A brief military operation launched from a base or defensive position.

The defenders launch a sortie from the fortress gate toward the battering ram.

A small defending party rushes out through a fortress side gate to strike besiegers at a nearby battering ram, while a defender holds the gate for their return.
Etymology
sortieFrencha going out

Literally a “going out,” a sortie originally described besieged defenders leaving their position to attack the besiegers. The outward movement gives the military attack its name.

More examples

  • The defenders launch a sortie against the troops surrounding their fort.
  • Each fighter flies two sorties before noon.
  • The warships sortie from the harbor to intercept enemy vessels.

Forms

sortie · sorties · sortied · sortieing

Similar words

sally
Specifically an outward attack by troops defending a position.
mission
Any assigned military task, not necessarily a brief deployment.
raid
Emphasizes a sudden attack rather than any operation from base.