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Where does “bicycle” come from?

Bicycle derives from Latin bi- meaning "two" and Latin -cycle from Latin cyclus, ultimately from Ancient Greek κύκλος, tracing back to Proto-Indo-European kʷel- meaning "to turn."

bicycle (English): A vehicle that has two wheels, one behind the...

Definitions

  1. A vehicle that has two wheels, one behind the...

Ancestry of “bicycle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchbicyclebicycle
2Frenchbi-bi-
3Latinbistwice, two times, on two occasions, in two ways
4Latincolorcolour, shade; color; pigment; complexion
5Ancient Greekμέτρονsomething used to measure: measure, rule, weight;...
6Ancient Greek-τρονForms instrument nouns
7Proto-Hellenic-tronForms instrument nouns from verb stems
8Proto-Indo-European-tromForms nouns denoting a tool or instrument
9Proto-Indo-European-tḗrDerives agent nouns from verbs, denoting someone...

Words derived from “bicycle”

  • cycle
  • bike
  • recycling
  • cycling
  • motorcycle
  • recycle
  • cyclin
  • biker
  • motorbike
  • cyclist
  • cyclase
  • recyclable
  • cyclotron
  • cyclohexane
  • cycloid
  • cyclodextrin
  • motorcyclist
  • epicycloid
  • cyclization
  • bicyclist
  • anthracycline
  • macrocycle
  • cycler
  • cycloidal
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -tḗr →