somersault

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsʌməsɒlt, -sɔːlt/

noun

  • an acrobatic movement in which a person turns head over heels in the air or on the ground and lands or finishes on their feet: a backward somersault figurative Paula’s stomach turned a somersault

verb

[no object]
  • perform a somersault, or make a similar movement accidentally: his car somersaulted into a ditch

Origin:

mid 16th century (as a noun): from Old French sombresault, from Provençal sobresaut, from sobre 'above' + saut 'leap'

Spelling help

Spell somersault with somer- at the beginning; the ending is -sault.