continue;
 
                                // Recurse if we're merging object values
-                               if ( deep && copy && typeof copy == "object" && src && !copy.nodeType )
-                                       target[ name ] = jQuery.extend( deep, src, copy );
+                               if ( deep && copy && typeof copy == "object" && !copy.nodeType )
+                                       target[ name ] = jQuery.extend( deep, 
+                                               // Never move original objects, clone them
+                                               src || ( copy.length != null ? [ ] : { } )
+                                       , copy );
 
                                // Don't bring in undefined values
                                else if ( copy !== undefined )