Pedaller

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɛdələ(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. Someone who operates a bicycle or tricycle by pushing its pedals with their feet
2. An individual who propels a pedal-powered vehicle such as a bike or pedal boat by turning the pedals
3. A person who moves a cycle forward by repeatedly pushing the foot pedals in a circular motion

Etymology: "Pedaller" is a plain formation: the noun "pedal" with the suffix "-er," which marks a person who performs an action. A pedaller, then, is someone who works the pedals of a machine, most often a bicycle, though the word is equally at home with organs, pianos and other pedal-operated instruments. The pedal itself comes from Latin "pedalis," meaning "of the foot," from "pes" (foot), so the word traces back to the simple idea of a lever worked by the foot. The spelling deserves a note for readers on either side of the Atlantic. British usage doubles the final consonant before "-er," giving "pedaller," while American usage keeps a single "l" and writes "pedaler." Both forms follow the same pattern, and neither spelling changes the meaning.

Synonyms: cyclist, biker