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>