Fellies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. Curved segments that, when joined together, form the outer rim of a wheel ; wooden or metal components shaped to fit around wheel hubs ; pieces that collectively create the circular edge of wheels
  2. Sections fashioned to make up a wheel’s outer band ; arched parts attached to a wheel’s perimeter ; rim components assembled to complete a wheel’s circumference
  3. Constructed portions comprising the exterior boundary of a wheel ; multiple curved elements fastened around a wheel center ; individual arc-shaped pieces forming a complete wheel rim

Etymology: The term "fellies" is a colloquial British English word that emerged primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It refers to the metal rims or bands that encircle the wooden spokes of a wheel, especially on carts, wagons, or early bicycles. These metal hoops were crucial for reinforcing the structure of the wheel, preventing the wooden components from splitting or loosening under the stress of use. The origin of the word likely comes from an alteration of "felloe," an older term dating back to Middle English, which itself derives from Old English "fēl," meaning a rim or a band. The felloe was the wooden outer rim of a wheel, to which the spokes were attached, and the "fellies" are the metal strips fitted around this wooden ring. Over time, as metalwork advanced and the protective rim became standard, "fellies" came to specifically denote these iron or steel bands rather than the wooden felloe itself. The plural form "fellies" probably emerged as a colloquial or dialectal variant, particularly in regions where wheelwrights or carriage makers used the term in everyday speech. While the singular "felloe" remains the more formal or historical term, "fellies" gained traction as a practical name for the distinct metal components seen on wheels. Though the word has retained a niche in the vocabulary of traditional wheelwrights and historians of transport, it largely fell out of common usage with the advent of modern rubber tires and new wheel construction methods. Still, it stands as a reminder of the intricate craftsmanship involved in earlier forms of transportation and the specialized language that grew around it.

Synonyms: rims, wheel rims