Mettre un cheval sur les VOLTES, Fr. To make a horse turn round, or perform the volts. They likewise say in the manege, demi-volte, half-turn or volt.
Volte, Fr. In fencing, a sudden movement or leap, which is made to avoid the thrust of an antagonist.
Volte-face, Fr. Right about.
Faire VOLTE-face, Fr. To come to the right about. It is chiefly applicable to a cavalry movement; and sometimes generally used to express any species of facing about, viz. Les ennemis fuirent jusqu’à un certain endroit, ou ils firent volte face; the enemy fled to a certain spot, where they faced about.
Volte, is also used as a sea phrase among the French to express the track which a vessel sails; likewise the different movements and tacks that a ship makes in preparing for action.
VOLTER, Fr. In fencing, to volt; to change ground in order to avoid the thrust of an antagonist.
VOLTIGER, Fr. To float; to stream out; to hover about; La cavalrie voltige autour du camp; the cavalry hovers about the camp. It also means, in the manege, to ride a wooden horse for the purpose of acquiring a good seat.
VOLTIGUER, Fr. A vaulter; a jumper; a hoverer; the French have trained their light troops to run, vault, and bear fatigues; these troops act as riflemen on foot or horseback; swim rivers with their arms; and vault behind horsemen to be transported rapidly to some point where it is necessary to make an impression. These corps were formed from an observance of the hardiness and intrepidity of American riflemen, by general Berthier, who served in America with Rochambeau.
VOLUNTEER. In a general acceptation of the word, any one who enters into the service of his own accord. The signification of it is more or less extensive, according to the conditions on which a man voluntarily engages to bear arms.
Volunteers are also bodies of men who assemble in time of war to defend their respective districts, and this generally without pay.