wheelman
(ˈhwiːlmən)
Pl. -men. Also wheelsman.
[f. wheel n. + man n.1]
1. A man who attends to a wheel in some piece of mechanism; U.S. a helmsman.
| 1865 Oregon State Jrnl. 12 Aug. 2/5 The wheelman says that large fragments of the bottom and a part of the rudder were afterwards seen alongside the wreck. 1866 ‘Mark Twain’ Lett. from Hawaii (1967) 195 Four other gentlemen and the wheelsman were all assembled on the little after portion of the deck. 1885 Harper's Mag. Mar. 643/1 The..wheelsman..tries to entice her up to his pilot-box, which towers above the vessel. 1886 J. Barrowman Sc. Mining Terms 72. |
2. A man who rides a bicycle or tricycle; a male cyclist. colloq.
| 1881 Tribune (N.Y.) 5 Apr., An enthusiastic wheelman of Boston had not up to January 1, missed but one day riding on his ‘steely steed’ since the winter season commenced. 1887 Morning Post 8 Apr., A reconnaissance can be carried out more quickly..by wheelmen than by horsemen. |
3. A driver, spec. (Criminals' slang) the driver of a getaway vehicle. orig. U.S.
| 1935 J. Hargan Gloss. Prison Lang. 8 Wheelman, driver of a getaway car. 1962 ‘K. Orvis’ Damned & Destroyed xii. 80 Later on,..he began driving a cab. Also being a wheel-man for the mobs. 1967 M. Procter Exercise Hoodwink vi. 44 The thieves had locked themselves in, and when they had emptied the safe, they had phoned for their wheel man like calling for a taxi. 1975 Publishers Weekly 27 Jan. 283/3 (Advt.), When a young California hoodlum blew the brains out of a helpless store clerk last year Ken Pestana was the unwitting wheelman waiting outside. |
So ˈwheelˌwoman, a female cyclist.
| 1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 5 Sept. 11/2 Wheelmen and wheel⁓women. |