Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 14:11:34 -0500

From: Jesse T Sheidlower jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PANIX.COM

Subject: Re: Trouble Hunters on WHEELS



The _Dictionary of Americanisms_ has "wheel" for "bicycle" from 1882. DARE

has scattered citations up through the 1960s, with no particular regional

pattern, and the 1902 _Sears_ catalog offers its "highest grade wheel" for

$15.75!



This echoes what we have in the HDAS files, which I was about to

post. We have evidence from the DA up through the 1970s (perhaps

later, but very rare if so). In recent use "wheels" (plural) is

much more common for any type of wheeled transport, bicycles

included.



Jesse Sheidlower

jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]panix.com