Leapfrog
/ˈliːpˌfrɒɡ/noun
A children’s game in which players vault over one another, or a move in which one thing jumps ahead of another.
Did you know?The earliest known use of *leapfrog* is from the late 16th century, and it began as a literal game-name before becoming a metaphor for skipping steps in rank, time, or power.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hlēapan
“to leap, run, spring”
Old English
OE
frogga
“frog”
Late 16th Century
English
leap-frog
“a children’s game involving jumping over another player”
17th Century
English
leapfrog
“the same game-name, increasingly used figuratively for passing over stages or ranks”
Modern English
English
leapfrog
“to advance by skipping over an intermediate step or position”