Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Volley?

\Vol"ley\, n.; pl. {Volleys}. [F. vol['e]e; flight, a volley, or discharge of several guns, fr. voler to fly, L. volare. See {Volatile}.] 1. A flight of missiles, as arrows, bullets, or the like; the simultaneous discharge of a number of small arms. Fiery darts in flaming volleys flew. --Milton. Each volley tells that thousands cease to breathe. --Byron. 2. A burst or emission of many things at once; as, a volley of words. ``This volley of oaths.'' --B. Jonson. Rattling nonsense in full volleys breaks. --Pope. 3. (a) (Tennis) A return of the ball before it touches the ground. (b) (Cricket) A sending of the ball full to the top of the wicket. {Half volley}. (a) (Tennis) A return of the ball immediately after is has touched the ground. (b) (Cricket) A sending of the ball so that after touching the ground it flies towards the top of the wicket. --R. A. Proctor. {On the volley}, at random. [Obs.] ``What we spake on the volley begins work.'' --Massinger. {Volley gun}, a gun with several barrels for firing a number of shots simultaneously; a kind of mitrailleuse.
\Vol"ley\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Volleyed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Volleying}.] To discharge with, or as with, a volley.
\Vol"ley\, v. i. 1. To be thrown out, or discharged, at once; to be discharged in a volley, or as if in a volley; to make a volley or volleys. --Tennyson. 2. (a) (Tennis) To return the ball before it touches the ground. (b) (Cricket) To send the ball full to the top of the wicket. --R. A. Proctor.