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volte face

 - 2 dictionary results

volte-face

  [volt-fahs, vohlt-; Fr. vawltuh-fas]
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–noun, plural volte-face.
a turnabout, esp. a reversal of opinion or policy.
Origin:
1810–20; < F < It voltafaccia, equiv. to volta turn (see volt 2 ) + faccia face
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

volte-face 
a reversal of opinion, 1819, from Fr., from It. volta faccia, lit. "turn face," from volta, imper. of voltare "to turn" (from V.L. *volvita, from L. volvere "to roll;" see vulva) + faccia (see face).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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