Definition of saltation
1a
: the action or process of leaping or jumping
b
: dance
2a
: 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 — compare darwinism, neo-darwinism, punctuated equilibrium
b
: mutation
—used especially of bacteria and fungi
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for saltation
The first known use of saltation was in 1646
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