[Fr., ad. It. volta faccia, f. volta turn + faccia face.] The act of turning so as to face in the opposite direction; fig. a complete change of attitude or opinion.
1819. Scott, Leg. Montrose, xvi. Your Excellency has only to hint that the M‘Aulays are going in that direction, and my friends of the Mist will instantly make volteface, and go to the right about. Ibid. (1822), Peveril, xxxiv. At last we were obliged to make volte-face.
1883. Athenæum, 20 Oct., 493/2. He is getting to believe in evolution and has to make some curious voltes-face in order to retain at the same time his belief in theism.
1889. Spectator, 9 Nov., 627/1. The sudden volte-face which Mr. Gladstone and Sir William Harcourt performed in 1886.
