Dictionary

roadwheel en · NOUN

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *raidō Proto-West Germanic *raidu Old English rād Middle English rode English road Proto-Indo-European *kʷelh₁-redup. Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *kʷekʷléh₂ Proto-Germanic *hweulō Old English hwēol Middle English whel English wheel English roadwheel From road + wheel.

Meanings

1. A wheel that supports the weight of a vehicle, especially one with caterpillar tracks.
   • Handwheel is the preferred term for what is popularly called the steering wheel. The reason for this distinction is that a typical car has three steering wheels - two are roadwheels and the other is a handwheel. 2004, Michael Blundell, Damian Harty, The Multibody Systems Approach to Vehicle Dynamics, page 493:
   • Right below me, passing us by, was a set of wheels that looked exactly like the roadwheels off a tank. year unknown, Robert E. Peavey, Praying for Slack: A Marine Corps Tank Commander in Viet Nam →ISBN, page 226
   • Consequently, track segments between roadwheels cannot support much load and vehicle weight is primarily supported by the track segments (links) immediately under the roadwheels. 2008, J. Y. Wong, Theory of Ground Vehicles, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 167:
   • Check roadwheels and idler wheels for excessive heat, worn mounting holes, and separation of rubber from metal. 1989, Operator's Manual for Combat Vehicle, Anti-tank, Improved Tow Vehicle, M901, NSN 2350-01-045-1123, page 119:

Forms