penny-farthing

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penny-farthing

n
(Automotive Engineering) Brit an early type of bicycle with a large front wheel and a small rear wheel, the pedals being attached to the front wheel. US name: ordinary
[C20: so called because of the similarity between the relative sizes of the wheels and the relative sizes of the (old) penny and farthing coins]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
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References in periodicals archive
You half expect him to ride oon a penny-farthing. It's an arresting way to present the facts about Burleighs, which we learn is 'ocial partners' with Scottish rugby player Doddie Weir, the Leicester Tigers and, er, Marilyn Monroe.
The former monarch, born in May 1819, will be featured on a rare PS5 coin, alongside a telephone, a penny-farthing bicycle, and other icons from her six-decade-long reign.
I've often scoffed at old time ways Those quaint styled fashions of bygone days 'Sticky out' frocks and 'handlebar' moustaches Penny-farthing bikes and round the waist sashes I considered my era the very last word And thought those dated times absurd Each age group thinks when their time bears fruit Their fashions are 'cool' and the past's a hoot.
A CYCLIST is to tackle a 700-mile charity bike ride to Paris on a penny-farthing.
I am giving away no secrets when I tell you tonight Dr Bumstable's penny-farthing loses a wheel although it's the small one thankfully and Mrs Gusset gets the vapours when a pineapple goes missing.
And when Marco's not flying on the trapeze, he's performing acrobatics, hula-hooping, riding a penny-farthing or even fire eating.
INTREPID Joff Summerfield yesterday completed a 22,000-mile journey around the world on a penny-farthing.
A PENNY-FARTHING cyclist from Coventry has crossed into Scotland on an epic journey from John O'Groats to Land's End.
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