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somersault

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
som·er·sault also sum·mer·sault  (smr-sôlt)
n.
1. An acrobatic stunt in which the body rolls forward or backward in a complete revolution with the knees bent and the feet coming over the head. Also called somerset; also called regionally tumbleset.
2. A complete reversal, as of sympathies or opinions.
intr.v. som·er·sault·ed, som·er·sault·ing, som·er·saults
To execute a somersault.

[Obsolete French sombresault, variant of sobresault, from Old Provençal sobresaut : sobre-, above (from Latin supr; see uper in Indo-European roots) + saut, leap (from Latin saltus; see sel- in Indo-European roots).]

somersault
Noun
a leap or roll in which the head is placed on the ground and the trunk and legs are turned over it
Verb
to perform a somersault [Old French soubresault]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.somersaultsomersault - an acrobatic feat in which the feet roll over the head (either forward or backward) and return
tumble - an acrobatic feat of rolling or turning end over end
flip-flop - a backward somersault
Verb1.somersault - do a somersault
roll over - make a rolling motion or turn; "The dog rolled over"
Translations
Spanish somersault [ˈsʌməsɔːlt] n (deliberate) → salto mortal;
(accidental) → vuelco
vidar un salto mortal; dar vuelcos

French somersault [ˈsʌməsɔːlt] nculbute f, saut périlleux
vifaire la culbute or un saut périlleux; [car] → faire un tonneau

German somersault [ˈsʌməsɔːlt] nSalto m
vieinen Salto machen;
(vehicle) → sich überschlagen

Italian somersault [ˈsʌməsɔːlt] ncapriola;
(in air) → salto mortale
vifare una capriola (or un salto mortale); [car] → cappottare

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Newman looked at her; he felt a little dizzy; for the moment he seemed to be turning his somersault again.
He might just as well have turned a somersault and uttered an Indian war whoop, for his face was so full of suppressed excitement and his voice so treacherously joyful that everyone jumped up, though he only said, in a queer, breathless voice, "Here's another Christmas present for the March family.
We went with a back somersault down the front steps.
 
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