n.; pl. Volleys [ F. volée; flight, a volley, or discharge of several guns, fr. voler to fly, L. volare. See Volatile. ] 1. A flight of missiles, as arrows, bullets, or the like; the simultaneous discharge of a number of small arms. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fiery darts in flaming volleys flew. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Each volley tells that thousands cease to breathe. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A burst or emission of many things at once; as, a volley of words. “This volley of oaths.” B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rattling nonsense in full volleys breaks. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (a) (Tennis) A return of the ball before it touches the ground. (b) (Cricket) A sending of the ball full to the top of the wicket. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

Half volley. (a) (Tennis) A return of the ball immediately after is has touched the ground. (b) (Cricket) A sending of the ball so that after touching the ground it flies towards the top of the wicket. R. A. Proctor. --
On the volley, at random. [ Obs. ] “What we spake on the volley begins work.” Massinger. --
Volley gun, a gun with several barrels for firing a number of shots simultaneously; a kind of mitrailleuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Volleyed p. pr. & vb. n. Volleying. ] To discharge with, or as with, a volley. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be thrown out, or discharged, at once; to be discharged in a volley, or as if in a volley; to make a volley or volleys. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (a) (Tennis) To return the ball before it touches the ground. (b) (Cricket) To send the ball full to the top of the wicket. R. A. Proctor. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A game played by volleying a large inflated ball with the hands over a net 7 ft. 6 in. high. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Discharged with a sudden burst, or as if in a volley; as, volleyed thunder. [ 1913 Webster ]