for·ay / ˈfôrˌā; ˈfärˌā/ • n. a sudden attack or incursion into enemy territory, esp. to obtain something; a raid: the garrison made a foray against Richard's camp | fig. he made another foray to the bar. ∎  an attempt to become involved in a new activity or sphere: my first foray into journalism.• v. [intr.] make or go on a foray: the place into which they were forbidden to foray.DERIVATIVES: for·ay·er n.

foray hostile incursion. XIV (in early use Sc.). prob. f. foray vb. (XIV), back-formation from ME. forayer forager, raider, var. of forrier — OF. :- Rom. *fodrārius, f. *fodro FODDER (cf. FORAGE).