Volley
Volley , noun
[French volée; flight, a volley, or discharge of several guns, from voler to fly, Latin 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.
Each volley tells that thousands cease to breathe.
2.
A burst or emission of many things at once; as, a volley of words.
This volley of oaths.
Rattling nonsense in full volleys breaks.
3.
(a) (Tennis) A return of the ball before it touches the ground.
(b)
(Tennis) A sending of the ball full to the top of the wicket.
Collocations (3)
Half volley (Tennis) , A return of the ball immediately after is has touched the ground. 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. [Obsolete] What we spake on the volley begins work.
Volley gun , a gun with several barrels for firing a number of shots simultaneously; a kind of mitrailleuse.
Volley , transitive verb
To discharge with, or as with, a volley.
Volley , intransitive verb
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.
(Cricket)
(Tennis) To send the ball full to the top of the wicket. — R. A. Proctor