handspring

[ hand-spring ]

noun

1. an acrobatic feat in which one starts from a standing position and wheels the body forward or backward in a complete circle, landing first on the hands and then on the feet, without contact by the rest of the body.

verb (used without object)

, hand·sprang, hand·sprung, hand·springing.

1. to perform a handspring.

handspring

/ ˈhændˌsprɪŋ /

noun

1. a gymnastic feat in which a person starts from a standing position and leaps forwards or backwards into a handstand and then onto his feet

Word History and Origins

Origin of handspring¹

First recorded in 1870–75; hand + spring

Example Sentences

Her eponymous front handspring double twist was the single best vault in the final.

From FiveThirtyEight

Soviet legend Natalia Yurchenko, who innovated the roundoff-back handspring entry vault, was injured in the vault final and had to withdraw from the remaining three finals.

From FiveThirtyEight

It requires explosive power pushing off the vault—backward, no less, after a roundoff and back handspring—to flip twice, with the legs in a pike position, before -landing.

From Time

Yurchenko debuted the vault in an international competition in 1982, and this entry with a round-off back handspring has carried her name since.

From Washington Post

Other vaults require a gymnast to perform a front handspring onto the table.

From Washington Post

The next moment he executed a handspring into the midst of the natives, almost upsetting one of them.

From Project Gutenberg

The tub went down, and Charlie turned a handspring in the hot suds and came up covered with foam and wet clothes.

From Project Gutenberg

Well have no end of good times, said Bob, trying to turn a handspring on the grass, but tumbling down in the effort.

From Project Gutenberg

Monsieur Call bowed to everyone, including little Artaban, who acknowledged his courtesy by executing a handspring.

From Project Gutenberg

Had he not been on his skates he would have attempted a handspring in the exuberance of his spirits.

From Project Gutenberg