A velocipede. [Obs.]
1819. The accelerator, or walking expedition, is a machine invented by Baron Charles de Drais [of Baden.]—Mass. Spy, May 19, from The Boston Intelligencer.
1861. The earliest example of the word, as signifying a machine, except the above, appears to occur in G. M. Musgrave’s ‘By-Roads,’ p. 124. Cotgrave has it (1611) as the equivalent of Fr. Avanceur (N.E.D.).
