Forms: 7 volly (8–9 pa. t. vollied); 6– volley. [f. prec.]
1. trans. a. To utter (words, etc.) rapidly or impetuously. Usually with advs., as forth, off, out.
1591. Troub. Raigne K. John, I. (1611), 62. A prophet new sprung up, whose diuination volleis wonders foorth. Ibid., II. 73. If sobs would helpe,… My heart should volley out deepe piercing plaints.
1593. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 921. Another flapmouthd mourner, blacke, and grim, Against the welkin, volies out his voyce.
1754. P. H., Hiberniad, 37. She raves, and vollies off an horrid Cry.
1824. Scott, St. Ronan’s, xx. The bursts of applause which were vollied towards the stage.
1859. Meredith, R. Feverel, xxxviii. Sir Julius turned one heel, and volleyed out silver laughter.
1885–94. R. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, Aug. xii. She saw an uncouth form … whose parted lips Volley’d their friendly warning in a storm.
b. To discharge (arrows, shot, etc.) in a volley.
Cf. VOLLEYED ppl. a. 3.
1839. Bailey, Festus, 139. When the storm bends his bow, And volleys all his arrows off at once.
c. Tennis, etc. To return (a ball) in play before it touches the ground; to reply to (a service) in this way.
1875. ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Rur. Sports (ed. 12), III. I. v. 690/1. The service must not be volleyed.
1878. [see 2 b].
1902. Sat. Rev., 12 July, 51/2. It is bad policy to give the advice not to volley a lob.
d. Cricket. To bowl or deliver (a ball) that reaches the batsman before bouncing. ? U.S.
1909. Cent. Dict., Suppl.
2. absol. a. To fire a volley (or volleys). Also in fig. context.
Freq. in recent journalistic use, prob. after quot. 1854.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. vii. 119. Then the Boy shall sing, The holding euery man shall beate as loud, As his strong sides can volly.
1854. Tennyson, Lt. Brigade, v. Cannon behind them Volley’d and thunder’d.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 2 Jan., 2/1. A large line of guerillas … decided swiftly that their presence and position were discovered, and swiftly they volleyed.
b. Tennis, etc. To hit or return the ball before it bounces; to make a volley-stroke.
1819. in Hone, Every-day Bk. (1825), I. 867. He never volleyed [i.e., at fives], but let the balls hop.
1878. Marshall, Ann. Tennis, 197. A young player, if he fancies he can volley well, will always be apt to volley balls which would come well off the end-walls.
1892. Pall Mall G., 20 July, 7/2. F. Rooke … volleyed more effectively than his opponent.
3. intr. a. To emit or produce sounds simultaneously or continuously, in a manner suggestive of firearms or artillery.
In recent use freq. in ‘to volley and thunder,’ after quot. 1854 in sense 2 a.
1810. Southey, Kehama, XXIII. xi. When its thunder broke,… while it vollied round the vault of Hell, Earth’s solid arch was shaken with the shock.
1875. L. Morris, Children Street, i. Every day come they there, Afternoon foul or fair, Shouting and volleying.
1886. Stevenson, Kidnapped, xxix. For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house.
b. To rush, roll or stream with simultaneous motion; to shoot rapidly.
1853. C. Brontë, Villette, vii. About a hundred thoughts volleyed through my mind in a moment.
1880. Blackmore, Mary Anerley, I. x. 129. The crest of the wave volleys up the incline.
c. To issue or be discharged in, or after the manner of, a volley.
1887. Bowen, Æneid, I. 150. Firebrands fly, stones volley, the weapons furnished of wrath. Ibid., III. 577. Molten masses of stone to the skies with a groan and a roar Volley in showers.
