释义 |
▪ I. bicycle, n.|ˈbaɪsɪk(ə)l| [mod.f. (first in Fr.) bi- prefix2 II. + Gr. κύκλος circle, wheel.] a. A machine for rapid riding, consisting of a saddle-seat surmounting two wheels, to which the rider communicates motion by means of treadles; a two-wheeled velocipede.
1868Daily News 7 Sept., Bysicles and trysicles which we saw in the Champs Elysées and Bois de Boulogne this summer. 1869Mrq. Hartington in Daily News 14 May, The practice of riding or driving upon bicycles does not form any part of the examination of the Civil Service Commissioners. b. attrib. and Comb., as bicycle-basket, bicycle-gymkhana, bicycle-lamp, bicycle-polo, bicycle-pump, bicycle-race, bicycle-ride, bicycle-riding, bicycle-shed, bicycle-trade, bicycle-tyre; bicycle-chain, the chain which transmits the driving power from the pedals of a bicycle to its rear wheel; also, one used as a weapon in gang-warfare, etc.; bicycle-clip, a clip used to hold a cyclist's trouser-leg firmly around the ankle; bicycle-rickshaw, a rickshaw drawn by a person on a bicycle.
1870Belgravia X. 445 A novel feature in connection with bicycle races is taken from a donkey race... A prize is frequently given for the rider who can go, say, 100 yards in the longest time. Ibid. 446 Physicians of all nations have had time to judge of the effects of bicycle-riding on the human frame. 1882Pall Mall G. 20 June 5/2 The bicycle trade is particularly brisk. 1896Bicycle gymkhana [see gymkhana]. 1897Illustr. London News 27 Mar. 433 (Advt.), The 20th century bicycle lamp. 1898G. B. Shaw Let. 7 May in J. Dunbar Mrs. G.B.S. (1963) x. 169, I went for a bicycle ride. 1899Beerbohm Around Theatres (1924) I. 59 We watched four..men riding round the stage on bicycles and trying to project with their front-wheels a small ball into one or other of two small goals. ‘Bicycle Polo’ was the name given to this cheerful pastime. 1899W. James Talks to Teachers 222 Just as a bicycle-chain may be too tight, so may one's carefulness and conscientiousness be so tense as to hinder the running of one's mind. 1905E. M. Forster Where Angels fear to Tread iv. 104 There were bicycle gymkanas, and on the 30th Mrs Herriton would be holding the annual bazaar..for the C.M.S. 1907Yesterday's Shopping (1969) 124/1 Bicycle Baskets, for fixing to handle⁓bar of Bicycle. 1908Sears, Roebuck Catal. 170/2 Bicycle Pumps..including hose connection which will fit all valves. 1922H. Williamson Dandelion Days 157 If you had a pin stuck..in a bicycle tyre. 1923R. Macaulay Told by Idiot x. 97 Her bicycle basket was full of primroses. a1930D. H. Lawrence Phoenix II (1968) 177 Do you think he'd flown over, with bicycle-clips round his trouser-ankles and spots of mud on his nose? 1936Punch 12 Aug. 190/2 He [sc. the Headmaster] was venturing to ask friends of the School for subscriptions towards the cost of a new bicycle-shed to replace the old one. 1939C. Day Lewis Child of Misfortune ii. i. 144, I could hear you playing bicycle-polo in the yard below. 1960Koestler Lotus & Robot i. i. 78 The bicycle-rickshaw—whose half-starved operator must pedal single-legged up to four passengers. 1960C. Day Lewis Buried Day vi. 124 Thomas Hardy..was living only a bicycle-ride away. 1962John o'London's 1 Nov. 404/2 The bicycle-chain Teds. 1963P. M. Hubbard Flush as May i. 11 The constable..took out a pair of bicycle clips, which he adjusted round his ankles.
Add:[b.] bicycle motocross = BMX n.
1974Pop. Mechanics Mar. 192 (heading) *Bicycle motocross: new two-wheel sport. 1990Seattle Times 24 Aug. c7/5 He has decided to retire, turning the bicycle-motocross track over to Mike Raich, a Seattle schoolteacher.
▸ bicycle bell n.
1889G. Massey My Lyrical Life (1st Ser.) 36 The *bicycle bells are a-tinkling. 1991F. Buechner Telling Secrets ii. 67 The sounds of the island were the clip-clop of the horses and the silvery chime of bicycle bells and carriage bells.
▸ bicycle racing n.
1873Times 22 Sept. 1/4 *Bicycle racing for prizes on the grand terrace. 1991Bicycling Feb. 22/1 Bicycle racing journalism is a field rife with descriptions of gear ratios, breakaways, and tactics.
▸ bicycle rider n.
1869Sci. Amer. 13 Mar. 164/3 The ‘poetry of motion’..can be more easily shown by the course of the *bicycle rider than by him who strides the three-wheeler. 1993Albuquerque (New Mexico) Jrnl. 7 Nov. d18/1 Bicycle riders buzzing down the 38-mile downhill path..to the sea.
▸ bicycle tour n.
1869Times 31 Mar. 9/5 This is stated to be the longest *bicycle tour yet made in this country. 1996F. Popcorn Clicking ii. 266 Organizations..have sprung up to sponsor camping trips, bicycle tours, and snowmobiling or camping groups for people over age 55.
▸ bicycle helmet n. = cycle helmet n. at cycle n. Additions
1979U.S. News & World Rep. 20 Aug. 69 To avoid traffic injuries, which befall thousands of cyclists each year, wear a *bicycle helmet, pedal with auto traffic and use hand signals before turning or stopping. 1999Independent 3 Nov. 8/8 Teenage idols such as Boyzone should wear bicycle helmets in their next pop video.
▸ bicycle kick n. Association Football an overhead kick, typically executed with the feet off the ground and often a shot at goal.
1960Times 21 Nov. 4/4 R. F. Jackson was essaying an overhead *bicycle kick at goal. 1993When Saturday Comes Sept. 10/1 And then you travel 100 miles to the Midlands and see..plenty of bendy free kicks and a superb overhead bicycle kick; and all for a few quid.
▸ bicycle lane n. a narrow lane on or alongside a road that is reserved for cyclists, or on which cyclists have priority over other traffic; cf. bicycle path n. at Additions
1971N.Y. Times 12 Oct. 28/3 Mr Clingan's bill..would require the Traffic Commissioner to prepare..a plan for special *bicycle lanes in all of the city's boroughs. 1994Guardian 21 Oct. ii. 8/1 In Toronto, bicycle lanes have been widened and the network extended to accommodate in-liners in huge numbers.
▸ bicycle messenger n. orig. U.S. a courier who uses a bicycle to transport and deliver messages, packages, etc.
1893N.Y. Times 25 July 3/5 A young man in Evansville, Ind., has started a *bicycle messenger agency, delivering messages and parcels at an average rate of 15 cents a trip. 1942H. Abend Ramparts of Pacific v. 48 The women of New Zealand are playing an important part in the war effort... Hundreds..are driving cars and trucks and acting as bicycle messengers. 2001National Post (Toronto) 11 Apr. b5/3 Culley..was..a bicycle messenger in Chicago. He has survived crashes into cab doors, knee and shoulder injuries.
▸ bicycle path n. a path for the (exclusive) use of cyclists, now esp. one alongside a road; cf. bicycle lane n. at Additions
1885Times 13 Nov. 10/4 This club held their meeting yesterday on the *bicycle path at Cambridge. 1935E. Huntington & S. van Valkenburg Europe i. iv. 59 Bicycle paths cross the rolling heath. 1995Guardian 16 June 3/4 Projects as diverse as 5,000 miles of bicycle paths and an electronic zoo for Bristol got a qualified green light.
▸ bicycle shorts n. orig. and chiefly U.S. = cycling shorts n. at cycling n. and adj. Additions
1945Consumers' Guide (U.S.) July 6 Another part of the Clothes Magic show illustrated what had been done in a ‘make over and make do’ program... Pedalers (*bicycle shorts) from G.I. pants..were..shown. 1998N.Y. Times 7 May b5/2 Wearing white bicycle shorts instead of long pants. ▪ II. ˈbicycle, v. [f. prec.] To ride on a bicycle.
1869[cf. bicycling]. 1883Harper's Mag. Apr. 692/2 Many enterprising souls..would have..bicycled, or canoed. Hence ˈbicycler, bicyclian, ˈbicycling.
1869Latest News 5 Sept. 15 (paragraph heading), Bicycling. 1876B. Richardson in Good Wds. 716 Rowing, or gymnastics, or bicycling. 1880Scribn. Mag. Feb. 497 Bicyclers sped along its shore. 1880J. G. Dalton Lyra Bicyclica, Bicyclian bards. 1884Harper's Mag. Jan. 304/2 You wish to be a bicycler. |