Volleys

Volleys are the plural form of the noun volley, a term used in sports, military, and figurative language to describe a rapid series of actions or an action performed while something is in motion. The core idea across senses is simultaneity or rapid succession, often involving a moving object such as a ball, a projectile, or questions. The word derives from Old French volée, from vol 'flight', ultimately from Latin volare 'to fly'.

In sports, a volley is contact with a ball in flight, before it touches the ground. In soccer and other field sports, a volley commonly refers to a shot struck midair, often from a lob. In tennis and similar racket sports, a volley is a shot hit before the ball bounces, typically near the net; a contact occurring after a bounce is called a half-volley. The term is also used in other contexts to describe a quick succession of strikes or passes when maintaining momentum.

In military use, a volley refers to the simultaneous discharge of several weapons, especially muskets, at a chosen signal. Historically, volleys provided massed fire to overwhelm opponents and synchronize firing across ranks. In modern rhetoric, the phrase a volley of questions or criticisms describes a rapid sequence of inquiries or remarks directed at an individual or institution.

The term also appears in general language to describe any burst or flurry of repeated actions, orders, or messages, such as a volley of emails or calls. Overall, volleys denote rapid, often coordinated, actions delivered in flight or in quick succession across contexts.