Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. (alternative form of double take English)
Wikipedia
A double-take is a nonverbal communication in which a second look is taken at something with a marked physical reaction such as shock, astonishment, or amazement. In theatrical terms, a 'take' is a physical reaction to seeing something. Comic characters often perform a double take because of the absurd world in which they are performing, and their audiences are often in a similar position when they have had an instant to reflect on a comic performance. With correct timing a double-take seldom fails to get a laugh. The double-take has probably been in the comedians repertoire for centuries and the term has been in general use since at least the 1940s.
Usage examples of "double-take".
I kissed her absent-mindedly, and did a double-take, coming back to sniff.
Annette does a double-take as her thesaurus conspires with her open government firmware and dumps a geographical database of city social services into her sensorium.
Slipping into the Ted role had been a relief, and when he drove up to the Camarillo gate the guard had double-taked his get-up and New York plates and openly challenged him as a cop, checking his ID and badge, calling West Hollywood Station to get the okay.
Jack suddenly realized that, although he was still running, he was running on thin air, like a cartoon character who has time for one surprised double-take before plunging two thousand feet straight down.
Not so busy that several passersby in civilian dress didn't to a slight check and double-take at her Intelligence flashes.
Jackson Hersey picked up a Saturday Evening Post, began to flip through it, and did a double-take.
Except for the blood pouring over and between his fingers, Humboldt looked weirdly like Jack Benny doing one of his famous double-takes.
The guard did a classic double-take at Pitt, who brought up the rear moving along the pier in a short sissyish gait.