The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word SALTATION
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
S
A
L
T
A
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Leaping" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case leaping = saltation.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SALTATION mean?
SALTATION noun- A leap, jump or dance.
- Beating or palpitation.
- A sudden change from one generation to the next; a mutation.
- Any abrupt transition.
- The transport of loose particles by a fluid (such as wind or flowing water).