velocipede
[vuh-los-uh-peed]
- a vehicle, usually having two or three wheels, that is propelled by the rider.
- an early kind of bicycle or tricycle.
- a light, three-wheeled, pedal-driven vehicle for railway inspection, used for carrying one person on a railroad track.
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Origin of velocipede
1810–20; < French vélocipède bicycle, equivalent to véloci- (< Latin, stem of vēlōx quick) + -pède -ped
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for velocipede
Historical Examples
Yes, and the velocipede; you've got the scar of that yet, I see.
An Old-fashioned GirlLouisa May Alcott
They were standing in the door, just outside which, on the sidewalk, was a velocipede.
The Pleasant Street PartnershipMary F. Leonard
The "draisena" was the forerunner of the velocipede and bicycle.
Don't you want us to raise the velocipede, so you can ride some more?
The Rival Campers AshoreRuel Perley Smith
If desired, this toy may be made up with three wheels like a velocipede.
Toy CraftLeon H. Baxter
velocipede
- an early form of bicycle propelled by pushing along the ground with the feet
- any early form of bicycle or tricycle
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Word Origin
C19: from French vélocipède, from Latin vēlōx swift + pēs foot
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for velocipede
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper