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somersault (n.)

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.

somersault (v.)

1845, from somersault (n.). Related: Somersaulted; somersaulting.

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Definitions of somersault from WordNet
1
somersault (v.)
do a somersault;
2
somersault (n.)
an acrobatic feat in which the feet roll over the head (either forward or backward) and return;
Synonyms: somerset / summersault / summerset / somersaulting / flip
From wordnet.princeton.edu