somersault
noun /ˈsʌməsɔːlt/
/ˈsʌmərsɔːlt/
- a movement in which somebody turns over completely, with their feet over their head, on the ground or in the air
- to do/turn a somersault
- He turned back somersaults.
- (figurative) Her heart did a complete somersault when she saw him.
Word Originmid 16th cent. (as a noun): from Old French sombresault, from Provençal sobresaut, from sobre ‘above’ + saut ‘leap’.