volant

adjective

vo·​lant ˈvō-lənt 

1

: having the wings extended as if in flight

—used of a heraldic bird

2

: flying or capable of flying

3

: quick, nimble

Did you know?

English picked up "volant" from Middle French. The term survives in Modern French as well, both as an adjective having essentially the same meaning as the English term, and as a noun with several meanings (among them "shuttlecock"). The influence of French can be seen doubly in the heraldic sense of "volant": in heraldic contexts the adjective "volant" almost always appears after the noun - a syntax picked up from French along with the meaning. Ultimately, "volant" comes from the Latin verb volare, meaning "to fly." Another word that came to English through Middle French from volare is "volley," which refers to things flying back and forth through the air.

Examples of volant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There were volant ruffles giving architecture to the body and reinterpreted polka dots. —Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2023

And being not only large but also volant might have been particularly costly, because big fliers tend to rely on soaring flight for much of their travel. —Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Latin volant-, volans, present participle of volare to fly

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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