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Where does the word "pedal" come from? It comes from Latin pedalis, and was adopted directly into English (1610s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "pedal" come from? It comes from Latin pedalis, and was adopted directly into English (1610s).
Pedal’s story begins in Latin: pedalis meant “of the foot.” From 'pes', foot. It reached English by 1610s as pedal. Bicycle pedals date from the 1800s. Today, pedal means a foot-operated lever.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pedalis "of the foot", from 'pes', foot.
- Stage 2 · English · 1610s pedal "organ foot-key", bicycle pedals date from the 1800s.