volantadj.n.

Brit.

/ˈvəʊlənt/, U.S.

/ˈvoʊlənt/

Forms: Also 1500s wolant, woolant.

Etymology: < French volant, present participle of voler, also as noun; or < Latin volant-, volans, present participle of volāre to fly. Compare also Italian volante, Spanish volante, Portuguese volante. In A. 1b, A. 3 placed after the noun.

A. adj.

†1.

a. Riding at full gallop. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > rider > [adjective] > riding fast or heavily

volant1548

wight-riding?1578

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. lvii They ranne volant one as fast as he might ouertake the other.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. lviii^v After that y^e king & his aides had performed their courses, thei ranne volant at al commers. [Hence in Holinshed and Baker.]

†b. Military. So constituted as to be capable of rapid movement or action. (Cf. flying adj. 4d.)

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > group with special function or duty > [adjective] > organized for rapid movement

volant1548

running1592

velitary1600

expedite1609

flying1665

mobile1879

quick-reaction1961

rapid deployment1967

rapid-reaction1968

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. clxvii^v Certain Frenchmen..came before Alexandrie, & there kept a siege volant.

1560 Maitland in E. Russell Maitland of L. (1912) ii. 57 For lack of money the camp volant cannot continue.

1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 479/1 in Chron. I The French army in Scotland..determined with a siege volant to keepe the Englishmen in Hadington from vitayles and all other reliefe.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 160 Out of these Regiments was raised a squadron volante (or flying Regiment) which onely was to answere Alarums.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 176 Sir Henrie Powers squadron volant (or flying Regiment).

1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia ii. xxi. 232 The Regiment volant..should draw out beyond the West part of the Campe.

1703 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion II. vi. 110 He..sent Charles Cavendish.., with a Party Volant of Horse and Dragoons, into Lincoln-shire.

†c. Hovering between two sides. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective]

twiredec888

orrathc1175

twofoldc1175

twifoldc1200

waveringc1315

uncertain1382

suspensec1440

mammeringa1450

flowing?1504

floghtering1521

vacillant1521

in a mammering1532

double-minded1552

unstaid1561

unresolute1570

unresolved?1571

staggeringa1577

frittle1579

irresolute1579

cheverel1583

off and on1583

halting1585

unsettleda1593

unresolving1599

demurring1607

waving1611

suspensive1614

hoveringa1616

startling1619

irresolved1621

hesitating1622

indetermined1628

variousa1643

branling1645

hesitant1647

non-sincere1656

hesitatious1657

humdrum1660

shuttlecock1660

yea-and-nay1672

swaying1688

interpendent1708

undetermined1718

Squadronec1720

hesitatorya1734

volanta1734

shilly-shally1734

dilly-dally1749

niffy-naffy1765

wiggle-waggle1778

undecided1779

undecisive1780

indecisive1787

conflicted1789

hesitative1795

undeciding1802

vacillating1814

yea-nay1827

demurrant1836

willy-nilly1839

shilly-shallying1842

oscillative1852

Hamletish1854

vacillatory1854

dilly-dallying1879

thistledown1897

weak-principled1913

not-quite1920

off-again on-again1923

dithery1931

havering1975

a1734 R. North Examen (1740) i. ii. §25 42 He was not, like the Party volant, waiting for Profers to determine him.

†2. volant piece n. an addition to the front of a helmet as a protection for the face, used especially in tournaments. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > helmet > [noun] > aventail

aventailc1374

ventailc1400

ventailet1459

volant piece1503

buffe1598

volant1867

1503 in Meyrick Ant. Armour (1824) III. 238 Woolant piece over the head.

1509–10 in Meyrick Anc. Armour (1824) II. 251 These four knights shall present themselves..in harneys for the tylt without tache or breket, wolant pece on the hedde [etc.].

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. cxxiii To whiche coyffe or bassenet neuer armorer taketh hede, for it is euermore couered with the viser, barbet and volant pece.

1824 S. R. Meyrick Crit. Inq. into Antient Armour II. 263 The grand-guard, volant piece and gard de bras were put on with nuts which rendered pincers necessary.]

3. Heraldry. Of birds, etc.: Represented as flying; having the wings expanded as if in flight. Many special varieties, as volant descendant, displayed, expansed, etc., are explained in Berry's Encycl. Herald. (c1828) I. Gloss.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > heraldic representations of creatures > [adjective] > specific movements of heraldic beasts > of birds

rousantc1460

segreanta1550

volant1572

rising1632

surgiant1688

soarant1828

soaring1828

1572 J. Bossewell Wks. Armorie ii. f. 29^v R. beareth Sable and Argente..two Faucons volante, and a Greyhounde cursante.

1599 R. Linche Fountaine Anc. Fiction sig. Fiii^v Downe from his shoulders depended a vestement, wherein was curiously proportioned the head of Medusa,..on the one side of him were placed certaine Eagles volant.

1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie iii. xxiii. 172 Heere also you see one gesture of a Fowle volant.

1684 London Gaz. No. 1980/4 A Coat of Armes being a Faulcon volant between 3 Mullets with distinction of a half Moon.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Volant, in Heraldry, is when a Bird in a Coat of Arms is drawn flying, or having its Wings spread out.

1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 143/2 Birds, according to their attitudes, are blazoned Volant, Displayed, Preying, etc.

1864 C. Boutell Heraldry Hist. & Pop. (ed. 3) iii. 66 Az. three butterflies volant or.

a. Flying; able to fly, capable of flight.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > [adjective] > flying (as) with wings > capable of flight

volative1613

volatile1626

volant1655

1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 385 This is the onely four-footed Beast that's volant.

1698 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 20 167 As to the Fire-Flies,..I take them to be a Glow-Worm Volant.

1708 Brit. Apollo 17–22 Dec. With Engine fatal to the Volant Kind.

1759 S. Johnson Prince of Abissinia I. vi. 40 I have considered the structure of all volant animals.

1789 H. L. Piozzi Observ. Journey France I. 366 A kind of volant beetle.

1822 T. Taylor tr. Apuleius Metamorphosis 300 In every part of the world there are animals adapted to the several parts, the volant living in the air, and the gradient on the earth.

1830 Fraser's Mag. 1 222 The volant, bright-plumaged birds of heaven.

1876 F. W. Farrar In Days of Youth xv. 142 Then shall thousands of volant angels bear us down upon their wings.

figurative.1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. v. 175 English silver now was current, and our gold volant in the Popes Courts.1789 E. Darwin Bot. Garden: Pt. II ii. 60 The first..Weighs with nice ear the vowel, liquid, surd, And breaks in syllables the volant word.1796 C. Burney Mem. Life Metastasio I. 351 Let me in volant thought Ideal bliss renew.1818 J. Jebb Life & Lett. lxvii. 619 But, alas, my paper wings are very rarely volant.1840 Mrs. Trollope in New Monthly Mag. 60 40 A sort of volant admiration that seemed ready to take wing, and fly off in whatever direction he might please to indicate.1898 G. Meredith Napoleon in Poems i. 11 Reverberant notes and long blew volant Fame.

b. transferred. Connected with flying.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > [adjective] > flying (as) with wings > relating to

volant1748

1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VI. i. 3 But here,..to carry on the volant metaphor.., is a pretty little Miss.

a. Of things: Passing rapidly through the air or space, as if by flight; floating lightly in the air.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > [adjective]

aerya1398

aerial?1545

coursing1600

volant1603

volatical1656

volatic1762

floating1781

aerian1865

volitant1891

1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 639 Alexander the Great,..who..lanced himselfe in maner of a starre volant in the aire, leaping out of the East into the West.

1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 791 The intelligent nature of heaven, he [Plato] calleth, a Chariot volant, to wit, the harmonicall motion and revolution of the world.

1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant ii. i. xii. 54 It may be thought that these fires volant proceed from sulphurous exhalations that rise out of the Earth.

1789 H. L. Piozzi Observ. Journey France II. 286 The volant shadows that cross our British hills.

1798 in Spirit of Public Jrnls. (1799) 2 167 The eddying smoke, quick flame, and volant spark.

1813 T. Busby in tr. Lucretius Nature of Things II. iv. Comm. p. vii The poet distinguishes the volant films of substances from other portions of bodies.

1831 T. Campbell in Metropolitan June 188 Men's volant homes that measure liquid space On wheel or wing.

1840 F. Trollope Widow Married xxii. 150 She had always some volant ribbon or floating scarf to attend to and arrange.

1865 Athenæum 15 July 78/2 The car volant of Armida.

b. Moving rapidly or lightly; active, nimble. Also figurative of discourse.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > bodily movement > [adjective] > qualities of bodily movement > agile or nimble

lightOE

quiverOE

yepec1275

taitc1300

yap13..

delivera1375

swippera1387

wight1390

nimblea1400

yarea1400

yerna1400

smitherc1475

leger1483

agilea1500

liver1530

lightsome1567

wimble1579

nimble jointed1591

nimble shifting1591

agilious1599

nimbling1599

nimble spirited1611

expedite1612

fitchanta1616

airy1642

fantastic1645

volant1650

clever1691

light-limbed1695

spry1746

swack1768

swank1786

yauld1787

deliverly1820

slippy1847

nippy1849

springe1859

pantherish1869

pantherine1890

flippant1895

loose1907

Tarzanesque1933

Tarzan-like1943

society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > elegance > [adjective] > moving lightly and quickly

winged1616

volant1650

airy1664

whisky1782

tripping1807

tripsome1890

1650 A. Weldon Court & Char. King James , 176 Now have I brought this great Kings Reign to an end, in a volant discourse, and shall give you his Character in briefe.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 561 His volant touch Instinct through all proportions low and high Fled and pursu'd transverse the resonant fugue.

1708 J. Philips Cyder ii. 75 Bards with volant touch Traverse loquacious strings.

1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. xxxvi. 241 Yes, my volant, my self-conducted quill, begin with the Sister.

1761 H. Dalrymple Woodstock 13 Their volant fingers o'er the chorded lyre, With modulating touch the artists ply.

1805 H. K. White Let. 10 Sept. in Remains (1807) I. 175 I could..in the caverns of the ocean flood, Thrid the light mazes of thy volant foot.

1828 Lights & Shades Eng. Life II. 277 Those dexter fingers, such volant summoners of sound.

1897 E. Dowden Hist. Fr. Lit. v. iii. 367 He knew how to wing his verses with a volent [sic] refrain.

†c. Of colours: Changing, iridescent. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > colour > variegation > iridescence > [adjective]

changeablec1450

cangeant1608

volant1616

changeanta1653

changing1659

pavonine1688

versicoloured1721

perlaceous1777

iridescent1794

pavonated1798

chatoyant1816

nacreous1819

shot1824

versicolorate1826

nacrous1836

versicolorous1847

iridine1851

perlarious1858

nacry1859

nacrine1862

playing1871

fire-opalescent1873

irisated1887

holographic1988

1616 J. Lane Contin. Squire's Tale xi. 204 (note) All colors vauncd, save white,..with all new volant dies of gallant dresse.

6. Characterized by, of the nature of, flight.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > [adjective] > flying (as) with wings > characterized by or of the nature of

volant1818

1818 Mrs. E. H. Iliff Corfu in Poems (ed. 2) 98 The games, the race, the wrestlers meed; The discus urged with volant speed.

1831 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 29 263 What godlike grace in that volant motion!

1863 C. Lyell Geol. Evid. Antiq. Man xxii. 446 A change from..volant to non-volant habits of living.

1891 ‘C. E. Craddock’ In ‘Stranger People's’ Country xvi. 312 He turned to catch through the trees a flitting glimpse of her light dress, her volant attitude, as she sped silently and secretly back to the waiting group on the porch.

7. Flounced; frilled. (Cf. sense A. 3 below.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > ornamental textiles > ornamental trimmings > [adjective] > bordering or edging > frill

frilled1826

befrilled1843

frillya1845

volant1902

1902 Daily Tel. 2 Aug. 3/2 The seamed skirt..has the preference over the volant skirt.

B. n.

†1. to act, to keep (upon), the volant, to hover between two parties, sides, or opinions. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > be irresolute or vacillate [verb (intransitive)]

haltc825

flecchec1300

waverc1315

flickerc1325

wag1387

swervea1400

floghter1521

stacker1526

to be of (occasionally in) many (also divers) minds1530

wave1532

stagger1533

to hang in the wind1536

to waver as, like, with the wind1548

mammer1554

sway1563

dodge1568

erch1584

suspend1585

float1598

swag1608

hoverc1620

hesitate1623

vacillate1623

fluctuate1634

demur1641

balance1656

to be at shall I, shall I (not)1674

to stand shall I, shall I1674

to go shill-I shall-I1700

to stand at shilly-shally1700

to act, to keep (upon), the volanta1734

whiffle1737

dilly-dally1740

to be in (also of, occasionally on) two minds (also in twenty minds, in (also of) several minds, etc.)1751

oscillate1771

shilly-shally1782

dacker1817

librate1822

humdrum1825

swing1833

(to stand or sit) on or upon the fence1848

to back and fill1854

haver1866

wobble1867

shaffle1873

dicker1879

to be on the weigh-scales1886

waffle1894

to think twice1898

to teeter on the brink1902

dither1908

vagulate1918

pern1920

a1734 R. North Examen (1740) i. ii. §64. 63 And so they kept the Volant a good While, and did not declare on which Side they would fall.

a1734 R. North Examen (1740) iii. vi. §69. 474 The Dutch had acted the volant, and done enough, on the one Side or the other, to have kept the Fire alive.

1744 R. North & M. North Life Sir D. North & Rev. J. North 261 He..chose to keep upon the volant, free to Discourse and censure as he, from Time to Time, thought fit.

2. = volant piece n. at sense A. 2 (see sense A. 2 above). rare.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > helmet > [noun] > aventail

aventailc1374

ventailc1400

ventailet1459

volant piece1503

buffe1598

volant1867

1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. 714 Volant, a piece of steel on a helmet, presenting an acute angle to the front.

3. A flounce or frill.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > trimmings or ornamentation > ruffle or frill

ruff?1523

chitterling1576

hand-ruff1581

peak1591

frislet1607

fall1634

ruffle1659

furbelow1706

flounce1726

Valenciennes1764

ruche1806

ruching1847

volant1851

flouncing1865

balayeuse1882

cascade1882

goffering1889

tier1934

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > ornamental textiles > ornamental trimmings > [noun] > bordering or edging > frill

frill1591

volant1882

1851 Harper's Mag. Jan. 288/1 Five volants are set on full, each being trimmed at a little distance from the edge by a narrow guimpe.

1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 515/1 Volant, the French term denoting either a flounce, or a frill; both of which are descriptions of dress trimmings.

1908 Daily Chron. 17 June 6/5 Her muslin Empire dress had a deep white cloth ‘volant’.

4. = volet n. 2.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > painting > painting according to subject > [noun] > religious painting > picture as altar-piece > parts of altar-piece or panels

volet1847

predella1868

panel1873

mandorla1883

volant1898

paliotto1906

1898 Daily News 14 July 6/2 The most interesting of the late acquisitions is the pair of volants or shutters to Lionardo's Holy Family.

Derivatives

ˈvolantly adv. in a volant manner.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > [adverb]

afloat1768

a-wing1827

volantly1876

1876 J. Ellis Caesar in Egypt 98 Two seraphs hovering o'er the fragile ark, Its puny canvas fanning volantly.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1920; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	volant
释义	volantadj.n. Brit. /ˈvəʊlənt/, U.S. /ˈvoʊlənt/ Forms: Also 1500s wolant, woolant. Etymology: < French volant, present participle of voler, also as noun; or < Latin volant-, volans, present participle of volāre to fly. Compare also Italian volante, Spanish volante, Portuguese volante. In A. 1b, A. 3 placed after the noun. A. adj. †1. a. Riding at full gallop. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > rider > [adjective] > riding fast or heavily volant1548 wight-riding?1578 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. lvii They ranne volant one as fast as he might ouertake the other. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. lviii^v After that y^e king & his aides had performed their courses, thei ranne volant at al commers. [Hence in Holinshed and Baker.] †b. Military. So constituted as to be capable of rapid movement or action. (Cf. flying adj. 4d.) ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > group with special function or duty > [adjective] > organized for rapid movement volant1548 running1592 velitary1600 expedite1609 flying1665 mobile1879 quick-reaction1961 rapid deployment1967 rapid-reaction1968 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. clxvii^v Certain Frenchmen..came before Alexandrie, & there kept a siege volant. 1560 Maitland in E. Russell Maitland of L. (1912) ii. 57 For lack of money the camp volant cannot continue. 1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 479/1 in Chron. I The French army in Scotland..determined with a siege volant to keepe the Englishmen in Hadington from vitayles and all other reliefe. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 160 Out of these Regiments was raised a squadron volante (or flying Regiment) which onely was to answere Alarums. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 176 Sir Henrie Powers squadron volant (or flying Regiment). 1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia ii. xxi. 232 The Regiment volant..should draw out beyond the West part of the Campe. 1703 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion II. vi. 110 He..sent Charles Cavendish.., with a Party Volant of Horse and Dragoons, into Lincoln-shire. †c. Hovering between two sides. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective] twiredec888 orrathc1175 twofoldc1175 twifoldc1200 waveringc1315 uncertain1382 suspensec1440 mammeringa1450 flowing?1504 floghtering1521 vacillant1521 in a mammering1532 double-minded1552 unstaid1561 unresolute1570 unresolved?1571 staggeringa1577 frittle1579 irresolute1579 cheverel1583 off and on1583 halting1585 unsettleda1593 unresolving1599 demurring1607 waving1611 suspensive1614 hoveringa1616 startling1619 irresolved1621 hesitating1622 indetermined1628 variousa1643 branling1645 hesitant1647 non-sincere1656 hesitatious1657 humdrum1660 shuttlecock1660 yea-and-nay1672 swaying1688 interpendent1708 undetermined1718 Squadronec1720 hesitatorya1734 volanta1734 shilly-shally1734 dilly-dally1749 niffy-naffy1765 wiggle-waggle1778 undecided1779 undecisive1780 indecisive1787 conflicted1789 hesitative1795 undeciding1802 vacillating1814 yea-nay1827 demurrant1836 willy-nilly1839 shilly-shallying1842 oscillative1852 Hamletish1854 vacillatory1854 dilly-dallying1879 thistledown1897 weak-principled1913 not-quite1920 off-again on-again1923 dithery1931 havering1975 a1734 R. North Examen (1740) i. ii. §25 42 He was not, like the Party volant, waiting for Profers to determine him. †2. volant piece n. an addition to the front of a helmet as a protection for the face, used especially in tournaments. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > helmet > [noun] > aventail aventailc1374 ventailc1400 ventailet1459 volant piece1503 buffe1598 volant1867 1503 in Meyrick Ant. Armour (1824) III. 238 Woolant piece over the head. 1509–10 in Meyrick Anc. Armour (1824) II. 251 These four knights shall present themselves..in harneys for the tylt without tache or breket, wolant pece on the hedde [etc.]. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. cxxiii To whiche coyffe or bassenet neuer armorer taketh hede, for it is euermore couered with the viser, barbet and volant pece. 1824 S. R. Meyrick Crit. Inq. into Antient Armour II. 263 The grand-guard, volant piece and gard de bras were put on with nuts which rendered pincers necessary.] 3. Heraldry. Of birds, etc.: Represented as flying; having the wings expanded as if in flight. Many special varieties, as volant descendant, displayed, expansed, etc., are explained in Berry's Encycl. Herald. (c1828) I. Gloss. ΘΚΠ society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > heraldic representations of creatures > [adjective] > specific movements of heraldic beasts > of birds rousantc1460 segreanta1550 volant1572 rising1632 surgiant1688 soarant1828 soaring1828 1572 J. Bossewell Wks. Armorie ii. f. 29^v R. beareth Sable and Argente..two Faucons volante, and a Greyhounde cursante. 1599 R. Linche Fountaine Anc. Fiction sig. Fiii^v Downe from his shoulders depended a vestement, wherein was curiously proportioned the head of Medusa,..on the one side of him were placed certaine Eagles volant. 1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie iii. xxiii. 172 Heere also you see one gesture of a Fowle volant. 1684 London Gaz. No. 1980/4 A Coat of Armes being a Faulcon volant between 3 Mullets with distinction of a half Moon. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Volant, in Heraldry, is when a Bird in a Coat of Arms is drawn flying, or having its Wings spread out. 1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 143/2 Birds, according to their attitudes, are blazoned Volant, Displayed, Preying, etc. 1864 C. Boutell Heraldry Hist. & Pop. (ed. 3) iii. 66 Az. three butterflies volant or. 4. a. Flying; able to fly, capable of flight. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > [adjective] > flying (as) with wings > capable of flight volative1613 volatile1626 volant1655 1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 385 This is the onely four-footed Beast that's volant. 1698 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 20 167 As to the Fire-Flies,..I take them to be a Glow-Worm Volant. 1708 Brit. Apollo 17–22 Dec. With Engine fatal to the Volant Kind. 1759 S. Johnson Prince of Abissinia I. vi. 40 I have considered the structure of all volant animals. 1789 H. L. Piozzi Observ. Journey France I. 366 A kind of volant beetle. 1822 T. Taylor tr. Apuleius Metamorphosis 300 In every part of the world there are animals adapted to the several parts, the volant living in the air, and the gradient on the earth. 1830 Fraser's Mag. 1 222 The volant, bright-plumaged birds of heaven. 1876 F. W. Farrar In Days of Youth xv. 142 Then shall thousands of volant angels bear us down upon their wings. figurative.1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. v. 175 English silver now was current, and our gold volant in the Popes Courts.1789 E. Darwin Bot. Garden: Pt. II ii. 60 The first..Weighs with nice ear the vowel, liquid, surd, And breaks in syllables the volant word.1796 C. Burney Mem. Life Metastasio I. 351 Let me in volant thought Ideal bliss renew.1818 J. Jebb Life & Lett. lxvii. 619 But, alas, my paper wings are very rarely volant.1840 Mrs. Trollope in New Monthly Mag. 60 40 A sort of volant admiration that seemed ready to take wing, and fly off in whatever direction he might please to indicate.1898 G. Meredith Napoleon in Poems i. 11 Reverberant notes and long blew volant Fame. b. transferred. Connected with flying. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > [adjective] > flying (as) with wings > relating to volant1748 1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VI. i. 3 But here,..to carry on the volant metaphor.., is a pretty little Miss. 5. a. Of things: Passing rapidly through the air or space, as if by flight; floating lightly in the air. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > [adjective] aerya1398 aerial?1545 coursing1600 volant1603 volatical1656 volatic1762 floating1781 aerian1865 volitant1891 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 639 Alexander the Great,..who..lanced himselfe in maner of a starre volant in the aire, leaping out of the East into the West. 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 791 The intelligent nature of heaven, he [Plato] calleth, a Chariot volant, to wit, the harmonicall motion and revolution of the world. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant ii. i. xii. 54 It may be thought that these fires volant proceed from sulphurous exhalations that rise out of the Earth. 1789 H. L. Piozzi Observ. Journey France II. 286 The volant shadows that cross our British hills. 1798 in Spirit of Public Jrnls. (1799) 2 167 The eddying smoke, quick flame, and volant spark. 1813 T. Busby in tr. Lucretius Nature of Things II. iv. Comm. p. vii The poet distinguishes the volant films of substances from other portions of bodies. 1831 T. Campbell in Metropolitan June 188 Men's volant homes that measure liquid space On wheel or wing. 1840 F. Trollope Widow Married xxii. 150 She had always some volant ribbon or floating scarf to attend to and arrange. 1865 Athenæum 15 July 78/2 The car volant of Armida. b. Moving rapidly or lightly; active, nimble. Also figurative of discourse. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > bodily movement > [adjective] > qualities of bodily movement > agile or nimble lightOE quiverOE yepec1275 taitc1300 yap13.. delivera1375 swippera1387 wight1390 nimblea1400 yarea1400 yerna1400 smitherc1475 leger1483 agilea1500 liver1530 lightsome1567 wimble1579 nimble jointed1591 nimble shifting1591 agilious1599 nimbling1599 nimble spirited1611 expedite1612 fitchanta1616 airy1642 fantastic1645 volant1650 clever1691 light-limbed1695 spry1746 swack1768 swank1786 yauld1787 deliverly1820 slippy1847 nippy1849 springe1859 pantherish1869 pantherine1890 flippant1895 loose1907 Tarzanesque1933 Tarzan-like1943 society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > elegance > [adjective] > moving lightly and quickly winged1616 volant1650 airy1664 whisky1782 tripping1807 tripsome1890 1650 A. Weldon Court & Char. King James , 176 Now have I brought this great Kings Reign to an end, in a volant discourse, and shall give you his Character in briefe. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 561 His volant touch Instinct through all proportions low and high Fled and pursu'd transverse the resonant fugue. View more context for this quotation 1708 J. Philips Cyder ii. 75 Bards with volant touch Traverse loquacious strings. 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. xxxvi. 241 Yes, my volant, my self-conducted quill, begin with the Sister. 1761 H. Dalrymple Woodstock 13 Their volant fingers o'er the chorded lyre, With modulating touch the artists ply. 1805 H. K. White Let. 10 Sept. in Remains (1807) I. 175 I could..in the caverns of the ocean flood, Thrid the light mazes of thy volant foot. 1828 Lights & Shades Eng. Life II. 277 Those dexter fingers, such volant summoners of sound. 1897 E. Dowden Hist. Fr. Lit. v. iii. 367 He knew how to wing his verses with a volent [sic] refrain. †c. Of colours: Changing, iridescent. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > colour > variegation > iridescence > [adjective] changeablec1450 cangeant1608 volant1616 changeanta1653 changing1659 pavonine1688 versicoloured1721 perlaceous1777 iridescent1794 pavonated1798 chatoyant1816 nacreous1819 shot1824 versicolorate1826 nacrous1836 versicolorous1847 iridine1851 perlarious1858 nacry1859 nacrine1862 playing1871 fire-opalescent1873 irisated1887 holographic1988 1616 J. Lane Contin. Squire's Tale xi. 204 (note) All colors vauncd, save white,..with all new volant dies of gallant dresse. 6. Characterized by, of the nature of, flight. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > [adjective] > flying (as) with wings > characterized by or of the nature of volant1818 1818 Mrs. E. H. Iliff Corfu in Poems (ed. 2) 98 The games, the race, the wrestlers meed; The discus urged with volant speed. 1831 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 29 263 What godlike grace in that volant motion! 1863 C. Lyell Geol. Evid. Antiq. Man xxii. 446 A change from..volant to non-volant habits of living. 1891 ‘C. E. Craddock’ In ‘Stranger People's’ Country xvi. 312 He turned to catch through the trees a flitting glimpse of her light dress, her volant attitude, as she sped silently and secretly back to the waiting group on the porch. 7. Flounced; frilled. (Cf. sense A. 3 below.) ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > ornamental textiles > ornamental trimmings > [adjective] > bordering or edging > frill frilled1826 befrilled1843 frillya1845 volant1902 1902 Daily Tel. 2 Aug. 3/2 The seamed skirt..has the preference over the volant skirt. B. n. †1. to act, to keep (upon), the volant, to hover between two parties, sides, or opinions. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > be irresolute or vacillate [verb (intransitive)] haltc825 flecchec1300 waverc1315 flickerc1325 wag1387 swervea1400 floghter1521 stacker1526 to be of (occasionally in) many (also divers) minds1530 wave1532 stagger1533 to hang in the wind1536 to waver as, like, with the wind1548 mammer1554 sway1563 dodge1568 erch1584 suspend1585 float1598 swag1608 hoverc1620 hesitate1623 vacillate1623 fluctuate1634 demur1641 balance1656 to be at shall I, shall I (not)1674 to stand shall I, shall I1674 to go shill-I shall-I1700 to stand at shilly-shally1700 to act, to keep (upon), the volanta1734 whiffle1737 dilly-dally1740 to be in (also of, occasionally on) two minds (also in twenty minds, in (also of) several minds, etc.)1751 oscillate1771 shilly-shally1782 dacker1817 librate1822 humdrum1825 swing1833 (to stand or sit) on or upon the fence1848 to back and fill1854 haver1866 wobble1867 shaffle1873 dicker1879 to be on the weigh-scales1886 waffle1894 to think twice1898 to teeter on the brink1902 dither1908 vagulate1918 pern1920 a1734 R. North Examen (1740) i. ii. §64. 63 And so they kept the Volant a good While, and did not declare on which Side they would fall. a1734 R. North Examen (1740) iii. vi. §69. 474 The Dutch had acted the volant, and done enough, on the one Side or the other, to have kept the Fire alive. 1744 R. North & M. North Life Sir D. North & Rev. J. North 261 He..chose to keep upon the volant, free to Discourse and censure as he, from Time to Time, thought fit. 2. = volant piece n. at sense A. 2 (see sense A. 2 above). rare.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > helmet > [noun] > aventail aventailc1374 ventailc1400 ventailet1459 volant piece1503 buffe1598 volant1867 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. 714 Volant, a piece of steel on a helmet, presenting an acute angle to the front. 3. A flounce or frill. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > trimmings or ornamentation > ruffle or frill ruff?1523 chitterling1576 hand-ruff1581 peak1591 frislet1607 fall1634 ruffle1659 furbelow1706 flounce1726 Valenciennes1764 ruche1806 ruching1847 volant1851 flouncing1865 balayeuse1882 cascade1882 goffering1889 tier1934 the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > ornamental textiles > ornamental trimmings > [noun] > bordering or edging > frill frill1591 volant1882 1851 Harper's Mag. Jan. 288/1 Five volants are set on full, each being trimmed at a little distance from the edge by a narrow guimpe. 1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 515/1 Volant, the French term denoting either a flounce, or a frill; both of which are descriptions of dress trimmings. 1908 Daily Chron. 17 June 6/5 Her muslin Empire dress had a deep white cloth ‘volant’. 4. = volet n. 2. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > painting > painting according to subject > [noun] > religious painting > picture as altar-piece > parts of altar-piece or panels volet1847 predella1868 panel1873 mandorla1883 volant1898 paliotto1906 1898 Daily News 14 July 6/2 The most interesting of the late acquisitions is the pair of volants or shutters to Lionardo's Holy Family. Derivatives ˈvolantly adv. in a volant manner. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > [adverb] afloat1768 a-wing1827 volantly1876 1876 J. Ellis Caesar in Egypt 98 Two seraphs hovering o'er the fragile ark, Its puny canvas fanning volantly. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1920; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < adj.n.1503
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