Sa″li‐ent (?), a. [L. saliens, -entis, p. pr. of salire to leap; cf. F. saillant. See Sally, n. & v. i..] 1. Moving by leaps or springs; leaping; bounding; jumping. “Frogs and salient animals.” Sir T. Browne.
2. Shooting out or up; springing; projecting.
He had in himself a salient, living spring of generous and manly action. Burke.
3. Hence, figuratively, forcing itself on the attention; prominent; conspicuous; noticeable.
He had neither salient traits, nor general comprehensiveness of mind. Bancroft.
4. (Math. & Fort.) Projecting outwardly; as, a salient angle; — opposed to reëntering. See Illust. of Bastion.
5. (Her.) Represented in a leaping position; as, a lion salient.
Salient angle. See Salient, a., 4. — Salient polygon(Geom.), a polygon all of whose angles are salient. — Salient polyhedron(Geom.), a polyhedron all of whose solid angles are salient.