Bicycle
/ˈbaɪ.sɪ.kəl/noun
A vehicle with two wheels arranged one behind the other, powered by pedaling.
Did you know?The second half comes from Greek kyklos, the same root behind cycle, circle, and cyclone—so a bicycle is, etymologically, a “two-wheel circle” on the move.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kyklos
“wheel, circle, ring”
Latin
Latin
bi-
“two, twice”
1810s
French
bicyclette
“a two-wheeled vehicle”
Mid-19th Century
English
bicycle
“a two-wheeled pedal-driven vehicle”
Modern English
English
bicycle
“a two-wheeled vehicle propelled by pedals”