somersault

or som·er·set sum·mer·sault, sum·mer·set

[suhm-er-sawlt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR somersault ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an acrobatic movement, either forward or backward, in which the body rolls end over end, making a complete revolution.

such a movement performed in the air as part of a dive, tumbling routine, etc.

a complete overturn or reversal, as of opinion.

verb (used without object)

to perform a somersault.

Origin of somersault

1520–30; < Middle French sombresaut, alteration of sobresault; compare Old Provençal sobre over (< Latin super), saut a leap (< Latin saltus)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for somersault

plummet, skip, dive, drop, bound, bounce, surge, take, hop, fall, vault, top, gymnastics, somersaults, tumbling, stunts, quiver, barge, rattle, pop

Examples from the Web for somersault

Contemporary Examples of somersault

Anything more complicated than a somersault looks like a cutscene from a PlayStation game.
Krrish 3 Review: What the Bollywood Movie Steals From Superhero Films
Sujay Kumar
November 6, 2013

Historical Examples of somersault

A somersault and Sun Wu Kung was standing before the city moat.
The Chinese Fairy Book
Various
With that he turned a somersault and disappeared without a trace.
The Chinese Fairy Book
Various
And with that he turned one somersault after another, so that he flew along like a whirlwind.
The Chinese Fairy Book
Various
But Viggo turned a somersault instead of “Right about” and ran to the house.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf (Vol 2 of 17)
Various
Whenever the clown wants to rest, he has to get in the somersault position.
Common Science
Carleton W. Washburne

British Dictionary definitions for somersault

somersault

summersault

noun

a forward roll in which the head is placed on the ground and the trunk and legs are turned over it
a similar roll in a backward direction

an acrobatic feat in which either of these rolls are performed in midair, as in diving or gymnastics

a complete reversal of opinion, policy, etc

verb

(intr) to perform a somersault

Word Origin for somersault

C16: from Old French soubresault, probably from Old Provençal sobresaut, from sobre over (from Latin super) + saut a jump, leap (from Latin saltus)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for somersault

1520s, from Middle French sombresault, from Old Provençal sobresaut, from sobre "over" (from Latin supra "over;" see supra-) + saut "a jump," from Latin saltus, from the root of salire "to leap" (see salient (adj.)). Sometimes further corrupted to somerset, etc.

1850, from somersault (n.). Related: Somersaulted; somersaulting.