Skip to content

vault

noun

  1. gymnastics apparatus; skill
  2. architectural term for an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof
  3. move upward dramatically, move up and over (like) in the gymnastics event
L29059 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. move upward dramatically, move up and over (like) in the gymnastics event
L29060 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /vɒlt/ / /vɔːlt/ / /vɑlt/

noun

Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French volter (“to turn or spin around; to frolic”), borrowed from Italian voltare, itself from a Vulgar Latin frequentative form of Latin volvere; later assimilated to Etymology 1, above.

  1. An act of vaulting, formerly (chiefly) by deer; a leap or jump.
  2. A piece of apparatus used for performing jumps.
  3. A gymnastic movement performed on this apparatus.

    Each vault has three segments: “preflight” (the movement from the springboard onto the table), “block” (the moment the hands touch and leave the table) and “postflight” (the flips and twists before landing). […] Handspring and Tsukahara vaults are less common than Yurchenko-style vaults, but some gymnasts specialize in them.

  4. Synonym of volte: a circular movement by the horse.
  5. An event or performance involving a vaulting horse.

verb

Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French volter (“to turn or spin around; to frolic”), borrowed from Italian voltare, itself from a Vulgar Latin frequentative form of Latin volvere; later assimilated to Etymology 1, above.

  1. To jump or leap over with a hand and/or foot on the item for support.

    The fugitive vaulted over the fence to escape.

    The fugitive vaulted the fence to escape.