[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

saltation \salta"tion\, n. l. saltatio: cf. f. saltation.
   1. a leaping or jumping.
      1913 webster

            continued his saltation without pause. --sir w.
                                                  scott.
      1913 webster

   2. beating or palpitation; as, the saltation of the great
      artery.
      1913 webster

   3. biol. an abrupt and marked variation in the condition or
      appearance of a species; a sudden modification which may
      give rise to new races.
      1913 webster

            we greatly suspect that nature does make
            considerable jumps in the way of variation now and
            then, and that these saltations give rise to some of
            the gaps which appear to exist in the series of
            known forms.                          --huxley.
      1913 webster

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

saltation
     n 1: geology the leaping movement of sand or soil particles as
          they are transported in a fluid medium over an uneven
          surface
     2: a mutation that drastically changes the phenotype of an
        organism or species
     3: an abrupt transition; "a successful leap from college to the
        major leagues" syn: leap, jump
     4: taking a series of rhythmical steps and movements in time
        to music syn: dancing, dance, terpsichore
     5: a light springing movement upwards or forwards syn: leap,
         leaping, spring, bound, bounce
see also:
leap jump dancing dance terpsichore leaping 
spring bound bounce 

Saltation >> S Words
Saltation, definition of term: Saltation
saltation_pag1.html