How Do You Spell VELOCIPEDE?

Pronunciation: [vəlˈɒsɪpˌiːd] (IPA)

Velocipede is a word that often confuses people with its spelling. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /vəˈlɒsɪpiːd/. The first syllable, "velo," comes from the Latin word "vellus," meaning "fleece" or "hair." The second syllable, "ci," is Greek for "two," and "pede" comes from the Latin word "pes," meaning "foot." So, the word "velocipede" literally means "a two-footed vehicle propelled by hair or fleece." Despite its complicated history, the word has become synonymous with early bicycles and still remains in use today.

VELOCIPEDE Meaning and Definition

1. A "velocipede" refers to a historic early form of bicycle that was propelled by human power. The term is derived from two Latin words: "velox," meaning fast or swift, and "pes," meaning foot. Thus, a velocipede can be described as a swift-moving apparatus powered by foot motion.

   The velocipede was a predecessor to modern bicycles and appeared in the early 19th century. It typically consisted of a wooden or metal frame with two or three wheels, similar to a tricycle. The front wheel, usually larger than the others, provided stability and controlled the direction. The rider would sit or stand on the frame and use pedals attached to the front wheel to propel themselves forward. Steering was achieved by manually turning the front wheel in the desired direction.

   Velocipedes gained popularity as a means of personal transportation during the Victorian era, allowing people to move more swiftly than by walking. They were initially known by various names such as "dandy horse" or "running machine" before "velocipede" became the commonly accepted term. Over time, velocipedes evolved into more advanced designs, including the addition of pedals directly attached to the front wheel.

   Today, the term "velocipede" is mainly used in historical or academic contexts to refer to these early bicycles. Although they played a crucial role in the development of modern-day bicycles, velocipedes are now regarded as relics of a bygone era, replaced by more technologically advanced and efficient designs.

2. A light carriage, consisting of a beam, on which the rider sits, and having a wheel, or wheels, at each end, propelled by the rider by means of a treadle; also called a bicycle, a two-wheeled velocipede, and a tricycle, a three-wheeled velocipede.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for VELOCIPEDE

• celocipede
• belocipede
• gelocipede
• felocipede
• vwlocipede
• vslocipede
• vdlocipede
• vrlocipede
• v4locipede
• v3locipede
• vekocipede
• vepocipede
• veoocipede
• velicipede
• velkcipede
• vellcipede
• velpcipede
• vel0cipede
• vel9cipede
• vellocipede
• velocpede
• velociped
• Velucipede
• velocipide

Etymology of VELOCIPEDE

The word "velocipede" is derived from Latin and has a compound formation. It comes from the Latin words "velox", meaning "swift" or "fast", and "pes", meaning "foot". Therefore, "velocipede" can be directly translated to "swift foot" or "fast foot". The term was initially used in the 1810s to refer to a human-powered vehicle, typically a three-wheeled bicycle, before the term "bicycle" became more common.

Plural form of VELOCIPEDE is VELOCIPEDES