velocipede

noun ve·loc·i·pede \ və-ˈlä-sə-ˌpēd \

Definition of velocipede

: a lightweight wheeled vehicle propelled by the rider: such as

a : tricycle

b : a 3-wheeled railroad handcar

c archaic : bicycle

See velocipede defined for kids

Examples of velocipede in a Sentence

a museum with an interesting collection of 19th-century velocipedes

Recent Examples of velocipede from the Web

And whereas Snead might view the velocipede as a vehicle on which to multitask, a more cynical observer could find a metaphor here for the GM’s tenure.

— greg bishop, SI.com, "Jared Goff Is Thriving at the Center of Les Snead’s Two-Phase Plan," 24 Oct. 2017
The velocipede, or Michaudine, was the first bicycle with pedals.

— austin murphy, SI.com, "Veloci-Rapture: At 200 Years Old, A Look At the Bicycle’s Effect on Health, Sports and Culture," 24 July 2017
While there are competing claims for the first true motorcycle, this one is a Roper steam velocipede (or at least a very impressive re-creation).

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Check Out This 1860s Steam-Powered Motorcycle," 13 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'velocipede.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of velocipede

borrowed from French vélocipède, from Latin vēlōc-, vēlōx "swift, rapid" + -i- -i- -peda "having feet (of such a sort or number)," derivative of ped-, pēs "foot" — more at velocity, ¹foot

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1818

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year