- pedal
- 1611, "lever (on an organ) worked by foot," from Fr. pédale, from It. pedale "treadle, pedal," from L.L. pedale "(thing) of the foot," neut. of L. pedalis "of the foot," from pes (gen. pedis) "foot" (see foot). Extended to various mechanical contrivances by 1789. The verb is from the noun; 1866 of organs, 1888 of bicycles. Pedal-pushers "type of women's trousers suitable for bicycling" is from 1944.