Webster's English Dictionary

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saltation

sal.ta.tion \sal-'ta--sh*n, so.l-\ n [L saltation-, saltatio, fr. saltatus, 
   pp. of saltare t]o leap, dance, fr. saltus, pp. of salire to leap - more at 
   SALLY 1a: the action of leaping or jumping  1b: DANCING  2a: an abrupt 
   change  2b: the reputed direct transformation of one form into another in 
   the cours e of evolution; broadly : discontinuous variation