Biloxi eighth-grader Josef Jackson made it through two rounds of the national spelling bee Wednesday only to be tripped up by the word “voltigeur.”

Jackson, a student at St. Patrick Catholic High School, incorrectly spelled it as “voltajeure.”

Jackson had gotten through the first-round written test of 25 words and the second round, where he spelled “species” correctly.

“Voltigeur” means a tumbler, a leaper or vaulter.

Jackson won the Mississippi competition in March. He was the only Mississippian competing in the 82nd Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington.

On the Net:

Scripps National Spelling Bee: http://spellingbee.com