volant

[voh-luhnt]

adjective

1. engaged in or having the power of flight.

2. moving lightly; nimble.

3. Heraldry.,  (of a bird) represented as having the wings extended for flight.

   an eagle volant clutching a fish in its claws.

noun

1. Also called volant piece. Armor.,  a reinforcing piece for the brow of a helmet.

volant

/ ˈvəʊlənt /

adjective

1. (usually postpositive) heraldry in a flying position

2. rare,  flying or capable of flight

3. poetic,  moving lightly or agilely; nimble

Other Word Forms

• nonvolant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of volant¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from French, present participle of voler “to fly,” from Latin volāre; -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of volant¹

C16: from French: flying, from voler to fly, from Latin volāre

Example Sentences

From horror films to tabloid pages to Halloween, media and cultural depictions of our planet’s only volant, or flying, mammals have long generated and reinforced unfounded fear.

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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.

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A preliminary report on an omnivorous volant bird from northeast China.

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All my early interests revived; worldly propositions I had thought settled showed themselves unstable and volant; everything was shaken by the moving spirit of youth.

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“His volant touch, Instinct through all proportions, low and high, Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue.”

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Related Words

• aerial 
• floating 
• soaring