volant
/ˈvəʊlənt
/adjective Zoology
1(Of an animal) able to fly or glide: newly volant young...
- All birds-even the largest volant species, have relatively low wing loadings relative to, for example, airplanes.
- Among volant insects, behavior and time spent in flight varies greatly, both influencing probability of being swept off by the air stream.
- Based on the fact that young M. lucifugus are volant at three weeks of age, parturition on Brier Island must have occurred by 25 June.
1.1Relating to or characterized by flight.
1.2 [usually postpositive] Heraldry Represented as flying: a falcon volant
1.3 literary Moving rapidly or lightly: her sails caught a volant wind
Origin
Mid 16th century (as a military term in the sense 'capable of rapid movement'): from French, literally 'flying', present participle of voler, from Latin volare 'to fly'.