[ad. F. volter (f. volte VOLTE or ad. It. voltare); or (in sense 4) variant of VAULT v.2 under the influence of this.]
† 1. refl. To turn or roll over. Obs.–1
1658. Franck, North. Mem. (1694), 67. See where he comes tumbling and tossing, and volting himself in the stiffest Streams.
† 2. intr. (See quot.) Obs.–1
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 150/1. [A horse is said to] Voult, when he Raires, or stands upright.
3. Fencing. To make a volte. Also fig.
1692. Sir W. Hope, Fencing Master, 101. You must Volt, or leap with both your feet in the Air at once, quite by your Adversaries left shoulder.
1696. R. H., Sch. Recreat., 72. Fourthly, you may Volt, and in your so doing, give him the Thrust, which being clearly done, will mainly surprize him.
1771. Lonnergan, Fencer’s Guide, 215. I parry you with a Prime, and cut at your head with a Medium as I volt.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 14 July, 3/2. When Mr. Chamberlain volts, it is not only his face, but his whole personality he turns round.
† 4. = VAULT v.2 2. Obs. rare.
1753. Young, Brothers, III. i. This pass’d, as suits his Wisdom, Macedonians! Who volts o’er elder Brothers to a Throne. Ibid. (1757), Love Fame, V. 124. Some nymphs affect a more heroic breed, And volt [earlier edd. vault] from hunters to the manag’d steed.
Hence Volting vbl. sb.
1692. Sir W. Hope, Fencing Master, 10. Volting is the leaping by your adversaries left side, quite out of his measure.
1823. G. Roland, Treat. Art Fencing, 151. The same may be said of volting, or any manœuvre that does not give the opponent a fair opportunity of hitting the right breast.
1861. G. Chapman, Foil Practice, 34. Volting is prohibited in teaching with the foil, and condemned in fencing.
