wheelman

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From wheel +‎ -man.

Noun

[edit]

wheelman (plural wheelmen)

  1. (automotive) A driver of an automobile, especially a getaway vehicle in a criminal enterprise.
    • 2012, Robert K. Tanenbaum, Bad Faith, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:
      For instance, the wheelman in a robbery; he doesn't intend for anyone to get killed when he pulls up in front of a liquor store so that his armed complice can rob the store.
  2. (nautical) The steersman on a ship.
  3. (dated, cycling) A cyclist.
    Coordinate term: wheelwoman
    • 1897, American Architect and Architecture, volumes 57-58, page 51:
      Many wheelmen and wheelwomen, riding safeties, tandems and tricycles, stopped there during the evening and we had good opportunity for comparing American and English bicycles []
    • 1902, Matilda Betham-Edwards, East of Paris, London: Hurst and Blackett, pages 33–34:
      Old fashioned folks, for whom the horseless vehicle came to late, can but envy wheelmen and wheelwomen as they skim through vista after vista, outstripping one's horse and carriage as a greyhound outstrips a decrepit poodle.

Anagrams

[edit]