Penny-farthing: meaning, definitions and examples
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penny-farthing
[ ˈpeni-ˈfɑːrðɪŋ ]
old-fashioned bicycle
A penny-farthing is an old-fashioned type of bicycle with a large front wheel and a much smaller rear wheel. It was popular in the 19th century.
Synonyms
high wheel bicycle, ordinary bicycle
Examples of usage
- The penny-farthing was a common sight on the streets of London in the 1870s.
- He rode a penny-farthing to the park for a leisurely afternoon ride.
- The design of the penny-farthing made it challenging to mount and dismount.
- The penny-farthing was eventually replaced by bicycles with equal-sized wheels.
- Many enthusiasts still enjoy riding and collecting penny-farthings.
Translations
Translations of the word "penny-farthing" in other languages:
🇵🇹 bicicleta de roda alta
🇮🇳 पैनी-फार्थिंग
🇩🇪 Hochrad
🇮🇩 sepeda tinggi
🇺🇦 велосипед з великим переднім колесом
🇵🇱 welocyped z dużym przednim kołem
🇯🇵 ペニー・ファージング
🇫🇷 grand bi
🇪🇸 bicicleta de rueda alta
🇹🇷 yüksek tekerlekli bisiklet
🇰🇷 페니파딩
🇸🇦 دراجة عالية العجلة
🇨🇿 vysoké kolo
🇸🇰 vysoký bicykel
🇨🇳 高轮自行车
🇸🇮 visoko kolo
🇮🇸 háhjól
🇰🇿 биік дөңгелекті велосипед
🇬🇪 მაღალბორბლიანი ველოსიპედი
🇦🇿 yüksək təkərli velosiped
🇲🇽 bicicleta de rueda alta
Word origin
The penny-farthing, also known as a high wheel bicycle, was a popular mode of transportation in the late 19th century. It was named after the British coins, the penny and the farthing, because of the size difference between the two wheels. The large front wheel provided more speed, but also posed safety risks due to its height. The penny-farthing gradually fell out of favor as safer and more practical bicycle designs emerged. Today, the penny-farthing is primarily used for historical reenactments and as a nostalgic symbol of the past.