velocipede

noun /vɪˈlɒs.ɪ.piːd/

1. An early two-wheeled conveyance upon which one rode astride a wooden frame propelled by means of pushing the feet against the ground.

   historical

2. any wheeled vehicle powered by pedaling and steered with a handlebar, including but not limited to bicycles and tricycles.

3. Any three- or four-wheeled machine driven by foot or hand levers to the rear or front axle.

   archaic

4. A late-1860s bicycle driven by cranks on the front axle.

   archaic

   Polly laughed as she ran to view the ruin, for Tom lay flat on his back with the velocipede atop of him

Where it comes from

Borrowed from French vélocipède, from Latin velox (“swift”) + pes (“foot”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry velocipede (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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