velocipede
Victorian pedal contraption
A velocipede is an early form of human-powered vehicle, predecessor to the modern bicycle.
The term covers various contraptions from the 1800s—from hobbyhorse-style frames you pushed with your feet to penny-farthings with their enormous front wheels.
Now the word appears mainly in historical contexts or as a playful, old-fashioned alternative to bicycle: He arrived on his velocipede, looking like a Victorian gentleman.
Pedal-powered two-wheeler
- tricycleThree-wheeled pedal vehicle
- unicycleSingle-wheeled pedal vehicle
- penny-farthingAntique bicycle, giant front wheel
- boneshakerJarring early bicycle
high-wheeler · tandem · recumbent · handcycle · pedicab · trishaw · quadricycle · sociable
Quality from past eras
- VictorianOf a prim era
- penny-farthingAntique bicycle, giant front wheel
- boneshakerJarring early bicycle
- high-wheelerLarge-wheeled antique bicycle
relic · bygone · heritage · nostalgia · collectible · restoration · artifact · museum
Foot-operated levers
- cranksetPedal-to-chain transfer component
- chainLinked segments forming length
- spokesRods connecting hub to rim
- saddleMounted rider's seat
handlebars · frame · wheels · tire · hub · derailleur · gears · brakes
Turning bike cranks
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
- mobilityCapacity for movement
- rollingTurning over repeatedly
- glidingEngineless aerial movement
coasting · riding · cycling · wheeling · movement · balance · steering · freewheeling
First to explore territory
- inventionNew device or method
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- ingenuityClever, original thinking
- advancementForward movement or promotion
progress · evolution · revolutionary · Macmillan · patent · prototype · design · engineering
bicycle
Pedal-powered two-wheeler
- tricycleThree-wheeled pedal vehicle
- unicycleSingle-wheeled pedal vehicle
- penny-farthingAntique bicycle, giant front wheel
boneshaker · high-wheeler · tandem · recumbent · handcycle · pedicab · trishaw · quadricycle · sociable · monocycle
vintage
Quality from past eras
- VictorianOf a prim era
- penny-farthingAntique bicycle, giant front wheel
- boneshakerJarring early bicycle
high-wheeler · relic · bygone · heritage · nostalgia · collectible · restoration · artifact · museum · historical
pedals
Foot-operated levers
- cranksetPedal-to-chain transfer component
- chainLinked segments forming length
- spokesRods connecting hub to rim
saddle · handlebars · frame · wheels · tire · hub · derailleur · gears · brakes · cog
pedaling
Turning bike cranks
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
- mobilityCapacity for movement
- rollingTurning over repeatedly
gliding · coasting · riding · cycling · wheeling · movement · balance · steering · freewheeling · cruising
pioneering
First to explore territory
- inventionNew device or method
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- ingenuityClever, original thinking
advancement · progress · evolution · revolutionary · Macmillan · patent · prototype · design · engineering · mechanization
- Bikesbicycle, BMX, cruiser, mountain bike, road bike
- Old-timey wordsicebox, gramophone, phonograph, horseless carriage, aeroplane
- unpowered vehiclesbicycle, tricycle, unicycle, wheelchair, kayak
- vintage vehiclesantique car, classic car, vintage car, Model T, Model A
- foot-poweredbicycle, bike, kick scooter, tricycle, trike
- Victorian inventionstelegraph, steam engine, phonograph, typewriter, light bulb
velocipedemotorcar
Self-propelled road vehicle
automobile · motorcycle · motor vehicle · steam engine · locomotive
velocipedeTesla
EV manufacturer and surname
hoverboard · autonomous vehicle · hyperloop · electric bike · electric bicycle
velocipedesports car
High-performance driving machine
bullet train · supersonic jet · high-speed rail · Concorde · speedboat
ride, rider, pedal, accelerate, velocity, decelerate, velocities, accelerometers