an amusement ride consisting of a large upright wheel rotating on a fixed stand and having seats around its rim suspended freely so that they remain right side up as they revolve.
Origin
1890-95; named after G. W. G. Ferris (died 1896), American engineer
British Dictionary definitions for Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
/ˈfɛrɪs/
noun
1.
a fairground wheel having seats freely suspended from its rim; the seats remain horizontal throughout its rotation
Word Origin
C19: named after G.W.G. Ferris (1859–96), American engineer
Word Origin and History for Ferris wheel
n.
1893, American English, from U.S. engineer George W.G. Ferris (1859-1896), who designed it for the World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago, 1893. It was 250 feet tall and meant to rival the Eiffel Tower, from the 1889 Paris Exposition.