Pl. -men. Also wheelsman. [f. WHEEL sb. + MAN sb.1]

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  1.  A man who attends to a wheel in some piece of mechanism; U.S. a helmsman.

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1885.  Harper’s Mag., March, 643/1. The … wheelsman … tries to entice her up to his pilot-box, which towers above the vessel.

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1886.  J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 72.

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  2.  A man who rides a bicycle or tricycle; a malo cyclist. colloq.

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1881.  Tribune (N. Y.), 5 April. 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.

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1887.  Morning Post, 8 April. A reconnaissance can be carried out more quickly … by wheelmen than by horsemen.

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  So Wheelwoman, a female cyclist.

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1881.  Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 Aug., 3/1. The prestidigitateur [the great Hermann] will be assisted by ‘Ariel,’ the wonderful flying dancer, and Mdlle. Addie, the champion wheelwoman, on her $500 bicycle.

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1884.  Pall Mall Gaz., 5 Sept., 11/2. Wheelmen and wheelwomen.

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