velocipedes

Noun

velocipede (plural velocipedes)

1. (historical) An early two-wheeled conveyance upon which one rode astride a wooden frame propelled by means of pushing the feet against the ground.
2. any wheeled vehicle powered by pedaling and steered with a handlebar, including but not limited to bicycles and tricycles.
3. (archaic) Any three- or four-wheeled machine driven by foot or hand levers to the rear or front axle.
4. (archaic) A late-1860s bicycle driven by cranks on the front axle.
   • Polly laughed as she ran to view the ruin, for Tom lay flat on his back with the velocipede atop of him1870, Louisa May Alcott, An Old Fashioned Girl
5. (humorous) A bicycle.
   • […] 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...1992, Robert Rankin, The Antipope, page 197

   Synonyms:

   boneshaker

See all 6 meanings of velocipede