velocipede en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /vəˈlɑsəˌpid/ (US)
- /vɪˈlɒs.ɪ.piːd/
Etymology
Borrowed from French vélocipède, from Latin velox (“swift”) + pes (“foot”).
Meanings
- (historical) An early two-wheeled conveyance upon which one rode astride a wooden frame propelled by means of pushing the feet against the ground.
- any wheeled vehicle powered by pedaling and steered with a handlebar, including but not limited to bicycles and tricycles.
- (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.
“They can play with Willie’s playthings,” Nellie said. “They can’t ride on my velocipede!” Willie shouted.
1937, Laura Ingalls Wilder, On the Banks of Plum Creek:Polly laughed as she ran to view the ruin, for Tom lay flat on his back with the velocipede atop of him
1870, Louisa May Alcott, An Old Fashioned Girl:Jimmie Trescott's new velocipede had the largest front wheel of any velocipede in Whilomville.
1899, Stephen Crane, “"Showin' Off"”, in Harper’s Magazine:
-
(humorous) A bicycle.
I sense a portent inflating / an unlikely fellowship forming / and yet as swiftly as communion effloresced, / they leave, / pedalling into the distance / on their restored velocipede.
2022, Dave Clarke, “Velocipede”, in Northern Territory Literary Awards, pages 26-27:[…] 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.
1992, Robert Rankin, The Antipope, page 197:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| velocipedes | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
velocipedian · velocipedestrienne · velocipedist · velocipedestrian
Relateds
velocity · celeripede · velodrome
Synonyms
boneshaker (a late 1860s bicycle)
Translations (30)
hu velocipéd (early two-wheeled conveyance) · sh велосѝпе̄д (early two-wheeled conveyance) · da velociped (early two-wheeled conveyance) · ka ველოსიპედი (early two-wheeled conveyance) · nb velosiped (early two-wheeled conveyance) · sk velocipéd (early two-wheeled conveyance) · de Veloziped (early two-wheeled conveyance) · nn velosiped (early two-wheeled conveyance) · it velocipede (early two-wheeled conveyance) · eu belozipedo (early two-wheeled conveyance) · es velocípedo (early two-wheeled conveyance) · ru велосипе́д (early two-wheeled conveyance) · sh velosìpēd (early two-wheeled conveyance) · fi velosipedi (early two-wheeled conveyance) · ka დრეზინი (early two-wheeled conveyance) · pt velocípede ((archaic) generic term for three- and four-wheeled machines driven by hand or foot levers) · cs velocipéd (early two-wheeled conveyance) · bg дрезина ((archaic) generic term for three- and four-wheeled machines driven by hand or foot levers) · io velocipedo (early two-wheeled conveyance) · ru костотря́с (early two-wheeled conveyance) · pt velocípede (early two-wheeled conveyance) · gl velocípede (early two-wheeled conveyance) · ro velociped (early two-wheeled conveyance) · fr vélocipède (early two-wheeled conveyance) · lv velosipēds (early two-wheeled conveyance) · ja ベロシペード (early two-wheeled conveyance) · ca velocípede (early two-wheeled conveyance) · eo velocipedo (early two-wheeled conveyance) · mk велосипе́д (early two-wheeled conveyance) · pl welocyped (early two-wheeled conveyance)