vol|ley

vol|ley «VOL ee», noun, plural -leys, verb, -leyed, -ley|ing.

–n.

1. a shower of stones, bullets, or other missiles: »

A volley of arrows rained down upon the attacking knights.

2. the discharge of a number of guns at once.

3. Mining. the simultaneous explosion of two or more blasts in the rock.

4. Furative. a noisy, rapid outpouring or burst of many things at once: »

a volley of angry words.

5. in tennis: a) the hitting or return of a ball before it touches the ground. b) the flight of the ball in play before it has touched the ground.

6. (in soccer) a kick given the ball before it bounces on the ground.

7. (in cricket) a ball bowled so that it strikes the wicket before bouncing.

–v.t.

1. to discharge in a volley, or as if in a volley.

2. (in tennis) to hit or return (a ball in play) before it touches the ground.

3. (in soccer) to kick (the ball) before it bounces on the ground.

4. (in cricket) to bowl (a ball) that reaches the wicket before bouncing.

–v.t.

1. to be discharged in a volley: »

Cannon volleyed on all sides.

2. to sound together or continuously, as firearms, or in a way suggesting firearms.

3. to make a volley in tennis, soccer, or cricket.

╂[< Middle French volee flight < voler to fly < Latin volāre]