n. A strong, taut fabric attached with springs to a metal frame and used for gymnastic springing and tumbling. [Ultimately (possibly influenced by Italian trampoli, stilts, of Germanic origin) from early Modern Italian trempelino, springboard : probably trempellare, to move around, shake, strum a musical instrument (from Old Italian tempellare; probably akin to Modern Italian trimpellare, to totter, stagger, and of imitative origin) + Italian -ino, suffix used to form the names of tools and instruments (from Latin -īnus, adjective suffix; see -INE1).] trampo·lin′er, trampo·lin′ist n. |
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