volant

American  

[voh-luhnt] / ˈvoʊ lənt /

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.

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noun

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

volant British  

/ ˈvəʊlənt /

adjective

1. (usually postpositive) heraldry in a flying position

2. rare flying or capable of flight

3. poetic moving lightly or agilely; nimble

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Other Word Forms

• nonvolant adjective

Etymology

Origin of volant

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

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.

From Scientific American

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.

From Scientific American

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

From Scientific American

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aerial
• floating
• soaring