velocipede
See also: vélocipède
English
Etymology
Borrowed from French vélocipède, from Latin velox (“swift”) + pes (“foot”)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /vɪˈlɒs.ɪ.piːd/
- Hyphenation: ve‧lo‧ci‧pede
Noun
velocipede (plural velocipedes)
- (historical) An early two-wheeled conveyance upon which one rode astride a wooden frame propelled by means of pushing the feet against the ground.
- (archaic) Any three- or four-wheeled machine driven by foot or hand levers to the rear or front axle.
- (archaic) A late-1860s bicycle driven by cranks on the front axle.
- (humorous) A bicycle.
- 1992, Robert Rankin, The Antipope (page 197)
- […] his eyes fell upon the instantly recognizable if somewhat battered form of his own bicycle bell. […] 'Hold up there!' he cried, and 'Enough of that! Let loose that velocipede!'
Archroy heard the Irishman's frenzied cries and released his grip. Marchant toppled to the dust in a tangle of flailing spokes.
- […] his eyes fell upon the instantly recognizable if somewhat battered form of his own bicycle bell. […] 'Hold up there!' he cried, and 'Enough of that! Let loose that velocipede!'
- 1992, Robert Rankin, The Antipope (page 197)
Synonyms
- (a late 1860s bicycle): boneshaker
Related terms
Translations
Early two-wheeled conveyance
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(archaic) generic term for three- and four-wheeled machines driven by hand or foot levers
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(archaic) a bicycle driven by cranks on the front axle
Verb
velocipede (third-person singular simple present velocipedes, present participle velocipeding, simple past and past participle velocipeded)
- to ride on velocipede
Further reading
- Wikipedia entry for bicycle
- The Bicycle Museum of America — examples of the evolution of two-wheeled travel
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