Som"er*sault (?), Som"er*set (?), n. [F. soubresaut a jump, leap, OF. soubresault, It. soprassalto an overleap, fr. L. supra over + saltus a leap, fr. salire to leap; or the French may be from Sp. sobresalto a sudden asault, a surprise. See Supra, and Salient.]
A leap in which a person turns his heels over his head and lights upon his feet; a turning end over end.
[Written also
summersault,
sommerset,
summerset, etc.] "The
vaulter's
sombersalts."
Donne.
Now I'll only
Make him break his neck in doing a sommerset.
Beau. & Fl.
© Webster 1913.