Main Entry: sal·ta·tion

Pronunciation: \sal-ˈtā-shən, sȯl-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Latin saltation-, saltatio, from saltare to leap, dance, frequentative of salire to leap — more at sally

Date: 1646

1 a : the action or process of leaping or jumping b : dance
2 a : the origin of a new species or a higher taxon in essentially a single evolutionary step that in some especially former theories is held to be due to a major mutation or to unknown causes — compare darwinism, neo-darwinism, punctuated equilibrium b : mutation —used especially of bacteria and fungi