Etymology

bicycle

bi·cy·cle
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Today it means: A vehicle that has two primary wheels, one behind the other, a steering handle, and a saddle seat or seats and is usually propelled by the action of a rider’s feet upon pedals. Full definition →

French bicycle ← Late Latin cyclus ← Ancient Greek κύκλος (kúklos)
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  2. Proto-Indo-European*trísinflu.
  3. Proto-Indo-European*dwís
  4. Proto-Italic*dwis
  5. Old Latinduis
  6. Latinbis
  7. Frenchbi-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*kʷelh₁-redup.
  9. Proto-Indo-European*kʷékʷlos
  10. Proto-Hellenic*kʷókʷlos
  11. Proto-Hellenic*kúklos
  12. Ancient Greekκύκλος (kúklos)
  13. Late Latincyclus
  14. Frenchcycle
  15. Frenchbicycle
  16. English todaybicycle

Borrowed from French bicycle (modern bicyclette), from bi- (“two”) + cycle (“cycle”). By surface analysis, bi- + cycle. First attested in English in 1868, and in French in 1847. (promiscuous woman): From double meaning of ride ("to transport oneself upon" vs. "to mount someone to have sex with them"). A communal bicycle would have many riders.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.