Definitions for: Volley


[n] a tennis return made by hitting the ball before it bounces
[n] rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms; "our fusillade from the left flank caught them by surprise"
[v] utter rapidly; "volley a string of curses"
[v] make a volley, as in a game of tennis
[v] discharge in, or as if in, a volley; "the attackers volleyed gunshots at the civilians"
[v] hit before it touches the ground; "volley the tennis ball"
[v] be dispersed in a volley; "gun shots volleyed at the attackers"



Webster (1913) Definition: 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.

Synonyms: burst, fusillade, salvo

Antonyms: ground stroke

See Also: discharge, disperse, dissipate, emit, fire, firing, hit, let loose, let out, play, return, scatter, spread out, utter

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