volant

What it means

1. not comparablegovernmentHaving extended wings as if flying.

   A demi-ostrich, wings volant proper.

   1924, The Publications of the Harleian Society, page 73

   1 more example

   Crest - A horseshoe ar. betw. two wings volant sa. Farrer

   1864, Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales: Comprising a Registry of Armorial Bearings from the Earliest to the Present Time, page 342

2. not comparablegovernmentRepresented as unsupported in the air.

   A martlet volant. Motto - In Deo solo spes mea. Kay

   1864, Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales: Comprising a Registry of Armorial Bearings from the Earliest to the Present Time, page 553

3. not comparableFlying, or able to fly.

   Alexander the Great […] lanced himself in manner of a Star Volant in the Air, leaping out of the East into the West, […]

   1657, Philemon Holland, The Philosophie, Commonly Called, the Morals, Written by the Learned Philosopher, Plutarch, page 525

In a sentence

Crest - A horseshoe ar. betw. two wings volant sa. Farrer

1864, Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales: Comprising a Registry of Armorial Bearings from the Earliest to the Present Time, page 342

Where it comes from

1. Latinvolāre
2. Middle Frenchvolant
3. Englishvolant

From Middle French volant, present participle of voler (“to fly”), from Latin volāre.