salutation

noun

1. the act of saluting.
2. something uttered, written, or done by way of saluting.
3. a word or phrase serving as the prefatory greeting in a letter or speech, as Dear Sir in a letter or Ladies and Gentlemen in a speech.

noun

1. an act, phrase, gesture, etc, that serves as a greeting
2. a form of words used as an opening to a speech or letter, such as Dear Sir or Ladies and Gentlemen
3. the act of saluting

n.late 14c., from Old French salutacion “greeting,” from Latin salutationem (nominative salutatio) “a greeting, saluting,” noun of action from past participle stem of salutare “to greet” (see salute (v.)). As a word of greeting (elliptical for “I offer salutation”) it is recorded from 1530s. Related: Salutations.