jump-off

[ juhmp-awf, -of ]
/ ˈdʒʌmpˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

a place for jumping off.
a point of departure, as of a race or a military attack.
the start of such a departure.
a supplementary contest among horses tied for first place in a jumping contest.

Origin of jump-off

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; noun use of verb phrase

Definition for jump-off (2 of 2)

Origin of jump

1505–15; compare Danish gumpe to jolt, gimpe to move up and down, Swedish gumpa, Low German gumpen to jump

SYNONYMS FOR jump

1 Jump, leap, vault imply propelling oneself by a muscular effort, either into the air or from one position or place to another. Jump and leap are often used interchangeably, but jump indicates more particularly the springing movement of the feet in leaving the ground or support: to jump up and down. Leap (which formerly also meant to run) indicates the passage, by a springing movement of the legs, from one point or position to another: to leap across a brook. Vault implies leaping, especially with the aid of the hands or some instrument, over or upon something: to vault ( over ) a fence.

OTHER WORDS FROM jump

jump·a·ble, adjective jump·ing·ly, adverb out·jump, verb (used with object) un·jump·a·ble, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH jump

hop jump skip (see synonym study at the current entry) (see synonym study at skip1)

Example sentences from the Web for jump-off

  • These two were outliers to the rest, beating the bushes beyond the Jump-off incessantly.

    The Red River Half-Breed |Gustave Aimard
  • “Some jump-off,” observed Bunker, but Big Boy did not hear him–he was looking up at the sun.

    Silver and Gold |Dane Coolidge

British Dictionary definitions for jump-off (1 of 2)

jump-off

noun

an extra round in a showjumping contest when two or more horses are equal first, the fastest round deciding the winner

verb jump off

(intr, adverb) to begin or engage in a jump-off

British Dictionary definitions for jump-off (2 of 2)

jump
/ (dʒʌmp) /

verb

noun

Derived forms of jump

jumpable, adjective jumpingly, adverb

Word Origin for jump

C16: probably of imitative origin; compare Swedish gumpa to jump

Idioms and Phrases with jump-off

jump