Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ped-
Proto-Indo-European *-s
Proto-Indo-European *pṓds
Proto-Italic *pets
Latin pēs
Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-
Proto-Indo-European *-is
Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?
Proto-Italic *-ālis
Latin -ālis
Latin pedālislbor.
English pedal
Learned borrowing from Latin pedālis. Cognate with French pédal (doublet of the pédale mentioned in § Etymology 1). Same surface analysis as in § Etymology 1.
bg но́жен (of or relating to the foot) · uk но́жний (of or relating to the foot) · mk ножен (of or relating to the foot) · ar قَدَمِيّ (of or relating to the foot) · be нажны́ (of or relating to the foot) · de Fuß- (of or relating to the foot) · es podal (of or relating to the foot) · pl nożny (of or relating to the foot) · ta மிதி (of or relating to the foot) · pt podal (of or relating to the foot) · cs nožní (of or relating to the foot) · fr pédal (of or relating to the foot) · pt pedal (of or relating to the foot) · ru ножно́й (of or relating to the foot)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ped-
Proto-Indo-European *-s
Proto-Indo-European *pṓds
Proto-Italic *pets
Latin pēs
Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-
Proto-Indo-European *-is
Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?
Proto-Italic *-ālis
Latin -ālis
Latin pedālis
Italian pedalebor.
French pédalebor.
English pedal
Borrowed from French pédale, itself borrowed from Italian pedale, from Latin pedālis. By surface analysis, ped- + -al.
Meanings
A lever operated by one's foot that is used to control or power a machine or mechanism, such as a bicycle or piano.
A piano usually has two or three pedals.
the pedal of a loom
There are three pedals on manual cars, two on automatics.
Of the Adirondackers who make their homes here and then rarely use them—the outdoorsiest of the outdoorspeople—some climb mountains, others cliffs; some push pedals, other paddles; […] 1996, Galen Crane, “Gear without Fear”, in Adirondack Life, volumes 27–28, Keene, N.Y.: Adirondack Life, →OCLC, page 4:
an orthopedic structure or a footlike part.
An effects unit, especially one designed to be activated by being stepped on.
(humorous) A stirrup.
The ranks of pipes played from the pedal-board of an organ.
A small organ commonly has only one or two ranks on the pedal.
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ped-
Proto-Indo-European *-s
Proto-Indo-European *pṓds
Proto-Italic *pets
Latin pēs
Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-
Proto-Indo-European *-is
Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?
Proto-Italic *-ālis
Latin -ālis
Latin pedālis
Italian pedalebor.
French pédalebor.
English pedal
Borrowed from French pédale, itself borrowed from Italian pedale, from Latin pedālis. By surface analysis, ped- + -al.
Meanings
To operate a pedal attached to a wheel in a continuous circular motion.
to pedal one's loom
(intransitive) To operate a bicycle.
The old man's backside fizgigged with laughter. "See ya, kid!" he called as Dave pedaled away. 2010 June, Wendelin Van Draanen, “Vinnie Gets Grilled”, in The Power Potion (The Gecko & Sticky), New York, N.Y.: Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN, page 46:
He was out of breath from pedalling up the steep hill.
Pinot was among those involved in the huge pile-up just as the race entered the final three kilometres. Grazes were visible under his torn clothing as he pedalled, with a face like thunder, to the finish line. 2020 August 29, Jeremy Whittle, “Alexander Kristoff takes Tour de France yellow jersey after day of crashe”, in The Guardian:
In the 1890’s “women were behind the stove,” he relates. But they cycled, too. “And they had difficulty pedalling bicycles with ankle-length skirts. “At the time,” Taylor said, “the most sinful thing a woman could do was to show light between her legs. “The original culotte was designed by a LAW member’s wife. The churches (in the East) termed this bepantsed female activity of biking “sinful bicycling,” he noted. 1975 April 17, Jack Weatherly, “Dallas or Bust”, in The Courier News, volume 80, number 286, Blytheville, Ark., page 8, column 3:
Crucial to the crankset is the bottom bracket. Of all the bearings on a bike, the bottom bracket is the one that has to bear the heaviest load. Not only does the bottom bracket have to spin while you pedal, but it takes the force of all the twisting and turning that occurs during pedaling. 2009, Dennis Bailey, Keith Gates, Bike Repair and Maintenance For Dummies, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
pedaled
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
US
lexicographic
pedaled
Tense=Past
US
lexicographic
pedalling
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
UK
lexicographic
pedaling
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
US
lexicographic
pedals
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
pedalled
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
UK
lexicographic
pedalled
Tense=Past
UK
lexicographic
Translations (23)
it pedalare (to operate a pedal) · gl pedalear (to operate a pedal) · io pedalagar (to operate a pedal) · es pedalear (to operate a pedal) · nl trappen (to operate a pedal) · sv trampa (to operate a pedal) · eo pedali (to operate a pedal) · ca pedalar (to operate a pedal) · ga troitheánaigh (to operate a pedal) · pt pedalar (to operate a pedal) · mk педали́ра (to operate a pedal) · uk педалізува́ти (to operate a pedal) · ru педали́ровать (to operate a pedal) · vi đạp (to operate a pedal) · ca pedalejar (to operate a pedal) · fi polkea (to operate a pedal) · pl pedałować (to operate a pedal) · fr pédaler (to operate a pedal) · uk педалюва́ти (to operate a pedal) · ta மிதி (to operate a pedal) · de in die Pedale treten (to operate a pedal) · de pedalieren (to operate a pedal) · ro pedala (to operate a pedal)