velocipede

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.historical

2. (archaic) Any three- or four-wheeled machine driven by foot or hand levers to the rear or front axle.archaic

3. (archaic) A late-1860s bicycle driven by cranks on the front axle.Examples: "Polly laughed as she ran to view the ruin, for Tom lay flat on his back with the velocipede atop of him"; "Jimmie Trescott's new velocipede had the largest front wheel of any velocipede in Whilomville."; "“They can play with Willie’s playthings,” Nellie said. “They can’t ride on my velocipede!” Willie shouted."archaic

4. (humorous) A bicycle.Examples: "[…] 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 flailing spokes."; "I sense a portent inflating / an unlikely fellowship forming / and yet as swiftly as communion effloresced, / they leave, / pedalling into the distance / on their restored velocipede."Synonyms: boneshakerhumorous