[ad. L. curricul-um running, course, also (race-)chariot, f. curr-ĕre to run.]
† 1. A course, running. (In quot. 1682 taken as dim., a short course.) Obs.
1682. Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor. (1756), 124. Upon a curricle in this world depends a long course of the next.
1710. T. Fuller, Pharm. Extemp., 271. The Remedy … is convey’d … by the Curricle of the Blood into the Tracheal Ducts.
2. A light two-wheeled carriage, usually drawn by two horses abreast.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 367. A curricle which is put in motion by the person who sits in it, by turning round a single wheel placed in the front.
1769. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 125/2. A man of 70 much intoxicated … rolled against the wheel of their curricle.
1794. W. Felton, Carriages (1801), II. 95. Curricles … are … a superior kind of two-wheeled carriage.
1802. Projects, in Ann. Reg., 773/2. In curricles, single horse chaises, or other carriages.
1888. Burgon, Lives 12 Gd. Men, II. xii. 386. He made these periodical journeys … in a kind of open curricle.
3. Comb., as curricle-builder; attrib., as curricle artillery, fire-engine, gun (= mounted on a light two-wheeled carriage for rapid movement).
1786. Sir H. Croft, Abbey of Kilkhampton, 107. Coach-Builders, Curricle-Builders.
1802. Naval Chron., VIII. 173. Brass guns on curricle carriages.
1807. Southey, in Q. Rev., II. 126. Two pieces of curricle artillery.
1878–81. E. Matheson, Aid Bk. (1889), 579. Curricle fire-engines … may be advantageously fitted with shafts for one horse.
Hence Curricle v.; † Curricleer, one who drives a curricle. nonce-wds.
1857. Carlyle, Misc., IV. 98 (D.). Who is this that comes curricling through the level yellow sunlight, like one of respectability keeping his gig?
1794. Sporting Mag., IV. 58. The dashing curricle-eers of the day.
1803. Pic Nic, No. 5 (1806), I. 177. Our tonish navigators and curricleers.
