sb. and a. Also 6 Sc. Volscan, 7 Volcian, Volcean. [f. L. Volscī + -AN. Cf. prec.]
A. sb. 1. Hist. One of an ancient warlike people formerly inhabiting the east of Latium, subdued by the Romans in the 4th century B.C.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, XI. xi. 29. Wyth armyt men and wageouris the Volscanis So neir almost bylappit hym at anis.
1607. Shaks., Cor., V. iii. 178. This Fellow had a Volcean to his Mother. Ibid., vi. 116. Like an Eagle in a Doue-coat, I Flatter’d [sic] your Volcians in Corioles.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 233. Volscians armed with iron-headed darts.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch, II. 163. Corioli was the capital of the country of the Volscians.
1841. Penny Cycl., xx. 105/2. M. Valerius, who, with an army of 40,000 plebeians, defeated the Volscians, Aequians, and Sabines.
2. The Italic language spoken by the Volscians.
1897. R. S. Conway, Italic Dialects, I. 272. The majority of scholars incline to regard them as borrowed from Oscan. From geographical considerations I think Volscian is a more likely source. Ibid., 288. The Osco-Umbrian family of dialects (to which Volscian belonged).
B. adj. Of, pertaining or belonging to, the Volscians; that is a Volscian.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 58. The towne Tarracina, called in the Volscian tongue Anxur.
1607. Shaks., Cor., V. iii. 3. My partner in this Action, You must report to th’ Volcian Lords.
1700. Dryden, Pal. & Arc., II. 639. The Volscian Queen extended on the Plain.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch II. 186. This proclamation exasperated the whole Volscian nation against the Romans.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., III. 289. The Pontine Marshes … were once covered with Volscian towns.
1880. Encycl. Brit., XIII. 443/1. The volcanic region of Terra di Lavoro is separated by the Volscian mountains from the Roman district.
