somersault

som·er·sault

noun \ˈsə-mər-ˌsȯlt\

Definition of SOMERSAULT

: a movement (as in gymnastics) in which a person turns forward or backward in a complete revolution along the ground or in the air bringing the feet over the head; also : a falling or tumbling head over heels

— somersault intransitive verb

Variants of SOMERSAULT

som·er·sault also sum·mer·sault \ˈsə-mər-ˌsȯlt\

Examples of SOMERSAULT

1. The gymnast turned a somersault.

Origin of SOMERSAULT

Middle French sombresaut leap, ultimately from Latin super over + saltus leap, from salire to jump — more at over, sally

First Known Use: circa 1530

Rhymes with SOMERSAULT

comma fault, double fault, garlic salt, single malt, table salt