Salvo is a noun that refers to a sudden, aggressive act or series of acts.

The Latin word salve (SOLVE ay) translates into ‘good health,’ but it was mainly used as a greeting — much like the Italian word salute (sah LOOT ay). Because the discharge of a gun became a way of saluting, salvo came to refer to a shot.

Today a salvo is most commonly used to refer to a metaphorical ‘shot’ someone takes, for example: When Daniela insulted the bell-bottomed jeans I was wearing, I understood this as a salvo. She wasn’t just critiquing my clothes, she was suggesting I was behind the times.