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)
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