The wheel arose more than three thousand years ago. The lever has been known since prehistoric times. It seems that the pedal is not much younger. But the “invention of the bicycle” is an actual entertainment today. This is the name of inventing original moves at a time when under your nose there is a solution that has been repeatedly tested and trustworthy.
We will not remain aloof from the research trend and pay close attention to the meaning of the word “pedal”. Let us put out, so to speak, the extraordinary importance of this question. That is, as the Dictionary of many expressions tells us, we pedal it.
Slang word from Ancient Rome
It is clear that the noun “pedal” appeared earlier than the same root verb. Let's turn to the sources.
The fact that the ancient Latins called pedāle (that is, "shoe") their descendants converted into a pedale. And already from French this “pedal” passed into our language. But you can’t shoe her on foot. And the meaning of the word “pedal” is not to flaunt shoes at all.
A funny turn was made here by the history of the language. Today's youth in slang calls the shoes the pedals, hardly trying to resemble the ancients at the same time.
With the same word, the youths call the legs themselves and, they say, even “mobile phones”, which is quite explainable by the further text, because the pedal is transmitted by it.
We will drive
Now the pedal is the lever that vehicles are equipped with:
- airplane;
- car;
- tram;
- motorcycle;
- moped.
All of them are controlled by pedals. And the bicycle is generally set in motion with their help. Thus, everyone who shakes their feet on the levers pedals, so that they send a control signal to certain systems or units.
The signal is transmitted in several ways:
- mechanical;
- hydraulic;
- electric.
In this case, the meaning of the word “pedal” is:
- pedal;
- use them;
- manage with their help.
Examples of use:
- On the rise, cyclists pedal with all their might.
- The motorcyclist sped on time, and collisions were avoided.
- Skillful pedaling in an airplane allows you to correctly control the rudder.
Spinning, sewing or playing music - all one pedal
In the old days, the pedal helped women work on the spinning wheel, later it was equipped with sewing machines.
Some musical instruments are also equipped with pedals.
Tool | Pedal function |
The piano | help hold sound weaken it |
Harp | needed for chromatic transitions |
Drum kit | special pedals for bass drum, cymbals, hi-hat |
Organ | kicking keyboard |
To pedal (or pedal), the meaning of these words in this context is as follows: use the pedal of a musical instrument when playing:
- The performer could not pedal at all, since her legs were in plaster.
- I witnessed how selflessly this illustrious organist pedals.
Pedal what matches the moment
In a figurative sense, used more often in colloquial speech than in a book, to pedal means:
- to emphasize;
- stick out;
- to dynamize;
- to emphasize;
- to sharpen;
- to strengthen;
- bring to the fore;
- underline;
- emphasize;
- accelerate.
Examples of use:
- Each pedaled their own interests; as a result, no general decision was made.
- I will pedal the decision to award you another rank.
- The topic of tolerance today is especially pedalized by the media.
So, having found out what meanings of the word “pedal”, you can feel like an athlete or racer, sitting at a musical instrument, and imagine yourself as a speaker in front of a huge audience, while driving.
But it’s better, of course, not to do either one or the other, but being in the “here and now”, to pedal the mood corresponding to the moment.