somersault etymology

Etymology:

• Old English: sumersault or sumersaulten
• Middle English: somersault
• Late Latin: subversus ("turned upside down")
• Old French: somervaut

Meaning:

• A gymnastic or acrobatic maneuver in which a person flips forward or backward over the head, landing on the feet.

Origin:

The word "somersault" is believed to have originated from the Late Latin term "subversus," meaning "turned upside down." This term may have been adopted into Old French as "somervaut" and then into Middle English as "somersault." The use of the word in the context of gymnastics and acrobatics developed later.

Additional Notes:

• The spelling of "somersault" was standardized in the 17th century.
• The term "somersault" can also be used figuratively to describe a sudden or unexpected change in direction or fortune.
• In some contexts, the word "somersault" is synonymous with "flip."

somersault relate terms

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• poet

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