penny-farthing

[pen-ee-fahr-th ing] /ˈpɛn iˌfɑr ðɪŋ/

noun, British

a high bicycle of an early type, with one large wheel in front and one small wheel behind.

Also called ordinary.

Origin

from a comparison of the size difference between the two bicycle wheels to the size difference between an old British penny and a farthing

British Dictionary definitions for penny-farthing

noun

(Brit) an early type of bicycle with a large front wheel and a small rear wheel, the pedals being attached to the front wheel US name ordinary

Word Origin

C20: so called because of the similarity between the relative sizes of the wheels and the relative sizes of the (old) penny and farthing coins