volley

Etymology

From Middle French volée (“flight”), from Vulgar Latin volta, from Late Latin volatus.

noun

1. The simultaneous firing of a number of missiles or bullets; the projectiles so fired.
   It was by his order the shattered leading company flung itself into the houses when the Sin Verguenza were met by an enfilading volley as they reeled into the calle. 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 30, in The Dust of Conflict
2. A burst or emission of many things at once.
   a volley of words
   A whole volley of furious criticism was poured on the author Alexander Pope] by those enemies whom his contempt had created, and his honest pride had justly disdained to propitiate. 1835, G[eorge] Croly, “Memoir of Pope”, in Alexander Pope, The Works of Alexander Pope;[…], volume I, London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy,[…], →OCLC, page 56
3. (sports) The flight of a ball just before it bounces.
4. (sports) A shot in which the ball is played before it hits the ground.
   But there was nothing he could do about Villa's second when Agbonlahor crossed from the left and Bent finished with a precision volley. October 1, 2011, John Sinnott, “Aston Villa 2–0 Wigan”, in BBC Sport
5. (cricket) A sending of the ball full to the top of the wicket.

verb

1. (transitive) To fire a volley of shots
2. (sports, transitive) To hit the ball before it touches the ground
   Boudewijn Zenden hit the post from 25 yards for the home side before Jody Craddock volleyed Wolves ahead from 10 yards against his former club. May 14, 2011, Peter Scrivener, “Sunderland 1–3 Wolverhampton”, in BBC Sport
3. (intransitive) To be fired in a volley
4. (sports, intransitive) To make a volley
5. To sound together