A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer / Comprising ancient and modern military technical terms, historical accounts of all North American Indians, as well as ancient warlike tribes; also notices of battles from the earliest period to the present time, with a concise explanation of terms used in heraldry and the offices thereof. The work also gives valuable geographical information. Compiled from the best authorities of all nations. With an appendix containing the Articles of war, etc.

by Thomas Wilhelm

Vocontii. A powerful and important people in Gallia Narbonensis, inhabiting the southeastern part of Dauphiné, and a part of Provence. They were allowed by the Romans to live under their own laws, and, though in a Roman province, they were the allies and not the subjects of Rome.

Voided. In heraldry, having the inner part cut away or left vacant, a narrower border being left at the sides, the color of the field being seen in the vacant space;—said of a charge or ordinary.

Voider. In heraldry, one of the ordinaries, whose figure is much like that of the flanch or flasque.

Volant. In heraldry, flying. A bird volant is represented flying bendways towards the dexter side of the shield; and its position may be distinguished from that of a bird rising, by the legs being drawn up towards the body.

Volant. A piece of steel on a helmet, presenting an acute angle to the front.

Volcæ. A powerful Celtic people in Gallia Narbonensis, divided into the two tribes of the Volcæ Tectosages and the Volcæ Arecomici, extending from the Pyrenees and the frontiers of Aquitania along the coast as far as the Rhone. They lived under their own laws, without being subject to the Roman governor of the province, and they also possessed the Jus Latii. The Tectosages inhabited the western part of the country from the Pyrenees as far as Narbo, and the Arecomici the eastern part from Narbo to the Rhone. A portion of the Tectosages left their native country under Brennus, and were one of the three great tribes into which the Galatians in Asia Minor were divided.

Volhynia. A frontier government of West Russia, bounded on the southwest by Galicia, and on the west by Poland, from which it is separated by the river Bug. Volhynia in early times belonged to the ancient Russians, but was conquered by the Lithuanians and Poles in 1320, and remained in their hands till its annexation to Russia in 1798.

Volley. The simultaneous discharge of a number of fire-arms.

Volokolamsk. A town of Russia in Europe, in the government of Moscow, 60 miles northwest from Moscow. It has suffered many misfortunes, having been twice plundered and almost destroyed by the Tartars, and taken by the Poles in 1613.

Volsci. An ancient people in Latium, but originally distinct from the Latins, dwelt on both sides of the river Liris, and extended down to the Tyrrhene Sea. Their language was nearly allied to the Umbrian. They were from an early period engaged in almost unceasing hostilities with the Romans, and were not completely subdued by the latter till 338 B.C., from which time they disappear from history.