Somersault \Som"er*sault\, Somerset \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)