Forms: α. 6 volée, volee, (valee), vole, 7 vollee, volle. β. 6 vallew, 6–7 volue. γ. 6–8 vollie (6 vallie, Sc. wollie), 7 volie, 7–9 pl. vollies; 6 voly, 6–7 volly, 7 Ir. voylly. δ. 6–7 voley, 7 wolley, valley, 6– volley. [ad. F. volée (12th c. in Godef., Compl.), = Pr. and Sp. volada, It. volata:—Romanic volāta, fem. sb. f. L. volātus, pa. pple. of volāre to fly.
The spellings volue, vallew, are prob. on the analogy of venue, vinew beside veny, vinny.]
1. A simultaneous discharge of a number of firearms or artillery; a salvo.
α. 1587. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1219/2. The whole fire began to plaie in such sort, that within foure volées both sides of the house were battered through.
1591. Garrard’s Art Warre, 48. They must abide at ye least a volee of Canons.
γ. 1573. Satir. Poems Reform., xxxix. 93. For ordinance thay dung at day and nycht By weirlyk volyis.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 143. The king … commandit to charge all the gunnis to gif the castell ane new wollie.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. 163. The enemy played all the night upon them with great vollyes, but hurt onely three men.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. xix. (Roxb.), 214/2. In grand Battalia’s or feild service the souldier fires by Vollies or as some terme it, by Salves of shot.
1700. S. L., trans. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 318. A Dutch Company that conducted us out of Town gave three Vollies and went back again.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 282. We then kept a continual Fire upon her of both great and small Arms, not firing in set Broadsides and Vollies.
1826. J. F. Cooper, Mohicans (1829), I. viii. 101. Rifles which sent their leaden messengers across the rock in vollies.
δ. 1591. in Lyly’s Works (1902), I. 440. But from the Snail-mount and the Ship-Ile in the Pond … there was a long volley of Chambers discharged.
1600. E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio, 203. They forced the gallions with a fewe volleies.
1625. Markham, Souldiers Accid., 9. Let the first Ranke onely giue their volley,… and the second to passe through it, and so giue their volley.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 169. We made some stay before the City,… and saluted it with a Volley both of all our great Guns, and of small shot.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 304. We were by this Method able to fire six Volleys, half of us at a Time.
1816. J. Scott, Paris Revisit. (ed. 2), 293. A loud coarse laugh burst out from each,—united as a volley of musquetry, and ending as abruptly.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, II. 219. After firing a volley, the troops charged and put the enemy to the rout.
1879. Browning, Martin Relph, 103. They level: a volley, a smoke and the clearing of smoke.
b. Const. of (shot, etc.).
α. 1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., III. 83 b. The valee of an 150. Canon shot.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, 12. If our … Mosquettiers would give their volees of Mosquet shot uppon these shipboates full of men.
1623. in Foster, Eng. Factories Ind. (1908), II. 231. At his putting into the grave 3 volles of smale shotte.
β. 1579. Digges, Stratiot., 105. These Troupes … hauing deliuered their Volue of Shot, shall marche away.
c. 1595. Capt. Wyatt, Dudley’s Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 19. Givinge whole vallews of shott at our meetinge. Ibid., 45. Wyatt … receaved his Generall with a vallew of small shott.
γ. 1584. Lyly, Campaspe, V. iii. 37. There is more pleasure in tuning of voyce, then in a volly of shotte.
1599. Dallam, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.), 59. Betwyxte everie greate shott a vallie of smale shott.
1650. R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low C. Wars, VII. 76. A great joy expressed by three Vollyes of shot, and the cheerfull sound of Drums.
a. 1660. Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.), I. 261. The relife gaue a voylly of foure score shott amonge them.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 8 Oct., 1641. From whence we received many vollies of shot in compliment to my Lord Marshall.
δ. 1591. Raleigh, Last Fight Revenge (Arb.), 20. After many enterchanged voleies of … small shot.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, V. § 4. 192. Resembling a volley of shot speedily deliuered.
1625. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 199. Which gave her a volley of fifteen hundred great shot.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World, I. 143. His Men fell … as flat to the Ground, as if they had been shot to Death with a Volley of our Shot.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. v. 186. He fired a volley of small shot between the masts.
1803. Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1837), I. xi. 390. A volley of small shot fired through the window.
1847. G. P. R. James, Convict, xvi. Another volley of shot rang from behind the gateway of the town.
c. transf., fig. and in fig. context. Also without article (quot. 1749); cf. next.
1629. H. Burton, Truth’s Triumph, 232. Thus haue we … spent a small volley vpon the Pontifician forces.
1738. Mrs. Delany, Life & Corr. (1861), II. 15. Every one was pleased with your … compliments, and volleys have been shot off in return this afternoon, when I said I was coming to my room to write to you.
1749. Smollett, Regicide, III. viii. I will pour My vengeance in full volley; and the earth Shall dread to yield you succour or resource!
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, IX. v. She discharged a volley of small charms at once from her whole countenance in a smile.
1817. Byron, Beppo, xlv. Large black eyes that flash on you a volley Of rays.
1836–7. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Scenes, xii. Ginger-beer corks go off in volleys.
† d. In volley, by simultaneous firing. Obs.–1
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, III. i. 42. There is yet another order of discharging of troupes of Muskets in vollie.
e. Mining. ‘The act of exploding blasts in sections.’
1895. Funk’s Stand. Dict.
2. A shower or simultaneous flight of many missile weapons, as arrows, stones, etc. Also in fig. context.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, I. i. 3. Our bowmen may shoot by vollies, as thick as hayle.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., VI. xiv. § 11. 91. The Britaines … auoided the volue of the Romans, showring downe withall great store of theirs vpon them.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 213. Over head the dismal hiss Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, I. 215. Stones and brands in rattling volleys fly.
1808. Scott, Marm., VI. xxxiv. The English shafts in volleys hail’d. Ibid. (1820), Abbot, xviii. Even thus fly all your shafts…, but a breath of foolish affection ever crosses in the mid volley, and sways the arrow from the mark.
b. Const. of.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, 31 b. The Archers with their volees of arrowes did breake both horsmen and footmen.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXVIII. xxxvi. 696. The Romans … at the first onset and volie of shot … put them to flight.
1625. Bacon, Apophth., § 126. It was told him, that the enemie had such volleyes of arrowes, that they did hide the Sunne.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 210. The People … ply’d the Top of the Mosque with … Volleys of Stones.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), I. 345. Numerous volleys of arrows and stones.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xlvi. IV. 520. Their engines discharged a perpetual volley of stones and darts.
1850. Marsden, Early Purit. (1853), 437. The mob rushed upon them with a volley of stones.
c. poet. A storm or shower of hail, rain, etc.
1737. Gentl. Mag., VII. 630. Wintry clouds, Surcharg’d with vollies of tumultuous hail, Or stores of sounding rain.
1784. Cowper, Task, V. 141. The gloomy clouds find weapons, arrowy sleet, Skin-piercing volley, blossom-bruising hail.
† 3. A company or troop of birds, etc., in flight; a flight. Obs. rare.
1601. Dolman, La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1618), III. 760. The ringe doues are seene to come euery yeere in great vollies ouer the sea. Ibid., 843. Birdes of prey doe not flie togither in vollies or troopes.
1610. G. Fletcher, Christ’s Vict., II. lxi. But to their Lord, now musing in his thought, A heavenly volie of light Angels flew.
† b. A crowd or large number of persons or things. Obs.
1595. Daniel, Civil Wars, V. cvii. Therefore easily great Sommerset … With all the vollie of disgraces met.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, II. xxxvii. 94. King Almerick himself wearied with whole volleys of miseries, ended his life of a bloudy flux.
a. 1656. Ussher, Ann., VI. (1658), 564. The Souldiers … finding their return intercepted by a valley of Archers.
1693. Humours Town, 27. The Vollies of Duns, of believing Vintners, Tailors, Sempstresses.
4. An uttering or outpouring of numerous words, oaths, shouts, etc., in smart or rapid succession. Also without const.
1590. Nashe, Pasquil’s Apol., I. C ij b. He giues vs a voley of Scriptures against Non Residents.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. iv. 30. A fine volly of words, gentlemen, & quickly shot off.
1620. [G. Brydges], Horæ Subs., 455. Whatsoeuer by them is performed, shall be sure to finde whole vollies of praises.
1647. N. Ward, Simple Cobler (1843), 54. I am resolved … to storme you with volyes of Love and Loyalty.
1649. Milton, Eikon., x. Wks. 1851, III. 412. Those thousands of blaspheming Cavaliers about him, whose mouthes let fly Oaths and Curses by the voley.
1710. Steele & Addison, Tatler, No. 254, ¶ 5. We heard a Volley of Oaths and Curses, lasting for a long while.
1779. Sheridan, St. Patrick’s Day, I. i. Let him have our grievances in a volley.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, V. vii. [He] poured forth … a volley of compliments.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 64. This, however, always produced a fresh volley from his wife.
1847. Illustr. Lond. News, 2 Oct., 219/2. Between them continuous volleys of what is called ‘chaff’ were kept up.
1874. Lisle Carr, Jud. Gwynne, I. v. 163. A volley of dire anathemas against those scoundrelly insurance chaps.
b. Similarly of sighs, groans, cheers, laughter, etc. Also without const.
1589. Greene, Tullies Love, Wks. (Grosart), VII. 189. After a vole of broken sighes tempered with some teares, hee fell a sleepe.
1640. Sandys, Christs Passion, IV. 270. Cries Of weeping Women, in lowd Vollies rise.
1648. Crashaw, Music’s Duel, 63. A Throng Of short thicke sobs, whose thundring volleyes float … In panting murmurs.
1727. Gay, Begg. Op., I. xii. What vollies of sighs are sent from the windows of Holborn.
1786. trans. Beckford’s Vathek (1868), 103. They burst out into volleys of laughter.
1877. Talmage, Serm., 334. Let this religion of Christ go down under a volley of merriment.
1882. B. D. W. Ramsay, Recoll. Mil. Serv., II. xv. 65. Giving a volley of British cheers.
c. A succession of words of command rapidly or smartly delivered.
1796. Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813), 27. The repetition of them by every other individual concerned, must not be strictly successive, but as much as can be in a volley.
† 5. At (the or a) volley, on (or o’) the volley, at random, without consideration. Usu. with verbs, esp. speak. Obs.
After F. à la volée.
(a) 1578. H. Wotton, Courtlie Controv., 252. The king … they knew loued hir feruently,… although it were begun at the volue.
1596. Harington, Metam. Ajax Apol., Aa vj b. The sundrie censures I shoulde incurre, by letting such a pamphlet fly abroad at such a time, when euerything is taken at the voley.
c. 1620. Z. Boyd, Zion’s Flowers (1855), 125. Like those who speake at random at a voleye.
1625. B. Jonson, Staple of N., IV. i. ’Tis like a Ball at Tennis … When we doe speak at volley, all the ill we can one of another.
1686. F. Spence, trans. St. Euvremont’s Misc., Pref. Otherwise we cannot lay hold of him, he speaks at volley and universally.
[1820. Scott, Monast., xvii. I have always known you … prompt to speak at the volley and without reflection.]
(b) 1629. Massinger, Picture, III. vi. What we spake on the voley begins to work.
1630. B. Jonson, New Inn, I. vi. You must not giue credit To all that Ladies publiquely professe, Or talke, o’th vollee, vnto their seruants.
1831. Fraser’s Mag., Sept., 161/1. He never speaks ‘on the voley’ (that is to say, at random).
6. Tennis. The flight of a ball in play before it has touched the ground. Cf. FLY sb.2 2 b.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, To Rdr. 24. One that stands, as it were, at the line in a Tennis-court, and takes euerie ball at the volly.
1878. Marshall, Ann. Tennis, 112. He frequently takes a difficult service (at the volley) off the penthouse.
b. Tennis, Lawn-tennis, Cricket, etc. A return stroke or hit at a ball before it has touched the ground; the action of so returning the ball. (Cf. half-volley HALF- II. i.)
1862. Temple Bar, VI. 282. [Mr. Budd] is said to have hit a volley to long-field for nine.
1884. Marshall’s Tennis Cuts, 124. The match was … loudly applauded every now and then by the spectators, when a brilliant volley was called, or a smash was declared.
1902. Sat. Rev., 12 July, 51/1. Instruction is given in the underhand volley [in lawn-tennis].
c. = VOLLEYER.
1878. Marshall, Ann. Tennis, 112. He was a powerful force, and a capital volley.
7. attrib. and Comb., as volley-boast, loophole, † -shot, system; volley-ball U.S., a game in which a ball is struck from alternate sides of a high net without touching the ground (Cent. Dict., Suppl.); volley-firing, simultaneous firing at the word of command by successive parties of soldiers; also fig.; volley gun, a form of machine-gun that fires bullets successively or in a volley (Knight, 1884).
1878. Marshall, Ann. Tennis, 197. He … would generally return it by a *volley-boast against the main-wall.
1859. Musketry Instr., 62. Every file is to have its own target, and the hits are to be counted as in *volley firing.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., III. 267. The superior efficacy of volley-firing and reserved fire.
1891. Daily News, 2 Oct., 5/5. In the … Town Hall of Newcastle the representative fighting men of the Liberal party were assembled for volley firing.
1898. Sir G. S. Robertson, Chitral, xxiii. 225. *Volley loopholes are good against an enemy that attacks with a masterful rush.
1689. Lond. Gaz., No. 2433/3. The Night concluded with Dancing, Bells Ringing, Bonfires, *Volly-shots. Ibid. (1702), No. 3793/3. The 2 Companies of Foot … gave a Volley Shot at each Proclamation.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 15 Sept., 2/3. There has for some time been a feeling in the air that the *volley system was going.
