I am glad to see that there were many responses to the issue of defining a
unicycle. There is obviously much more here than meets the eye. I am collecting
these definitions, including from some JUA people, and will eventually try to
summarize things and offer a “definititive” definiton, though I can’t imagine
that everyone will agree. Nevertheless, it is no doubt important that we are
able to precisely define the central hero of our sport.
But right now I’m in the midst of several dicitonary problems and have
no time…
In the meantime, the following (near-) synonyms for “unicycle” have
appeared so far.
UNICYCLE Stanard American
MONOCYCLE Traditional British
ONE-WHEELED VEHICLE “Scientific”
ICICLE Colloquial (I know one family who use it)
IKE Colloquial (not sure where I got this)
YIKE Colloquial (according to Adam Stork)
ONE-WHEELER Unattested, but I think I’ve heard it
ONE-WHEEL BICYCLE Unattested, uneducated
BIKE Substandard, uneducated, illiterate, stupid! :->
Using number 9 should be made a capital offense punishable by summary
execution :-). Actually, I was shocked that former IUF Vice President
Masanari Wakae used the Japanese equivalent (jitensha) while discussing
crankarm length in an official Rules Comitteee meeting, of all places! I
recommended he commit harakiri!
I’m not sure if I’m on the right track, but this should be a good begining. I
would never have believed that we could come up with such a long list…
> I am glad to see that there were many responses to the issue of defining a > unicycle. There is obviously much more here than meets the eye.
> 2. MONOCYCLE Traditional British
I don’t know if traditional British is right, but it’s certainly not modern
British. I might have to take issue with this (I nearly did when it came up
last week, but I didn’t get round to it).
> 4. ICICLE Colloquial (I know one family who use it) > 5. IKE Colloquial (not sure where I got this)
Yeah, my Dad's come up with both of these at some time or another. I don't
use them myself, simply because most people probably wouldn't have a clue
what I was talking about. I prefer uni anyway, or simply Sally :-)
> 8. ONE-WHEEL BICYCLE Unattested, uneducated > 9. BIKE Substandard, uneducated, illiterate, stupid! :-> > > Using number 9 should be made a capital offense…
Make that numbers 8 & 9. As Oscar Wilde said, the only sin is stupidity. Both
of these show that in abundance.
> 9. BIKE Substandard, uneducated, illiterate, stupid! :-> > > Using number 9 should be made a capital offense punishable by summary > execution :-).
> Jacj Halpern
What about the unicycle hockey infringement of SUB? (Stick Under Bike) Are you
suggesting that Rolf should be terminated…??? ;^7
Peter
Peter Philip Workshop and Team Practice (all welcome) of the LUNIs 8-9.30pm
every school-term Wednesday London's Unicycle Hockey Team Acland Burghley School
Burghley Road peterp@foe.co.uk (opposite Tufnell Park tube) All views expressed
are my own London NW5 United Kingdom
Akuma wrote: |> a clue what I was talking about. I prefer uni anyway, or simply Sally :-
Ohmigod! I forgot all about good ol’ uni! So the list is now expanded to ten
as follows.
UNICYCLE Stanard American
MONOCYCLE Traditional British
ONE-WHEELED VEHICLE “Scientific”
ICICLE Colloquial (I know one family who use it)
IKE Colloquial (not sure where from – attested)
YIKE Colloquial (according to Adam Stork)
ONE-WHEELER Unattested, but I think I’ve heard it
ONE-WHEEL BICYCLE Unattested, uneducated
BIKE Substandard, uneducated, illiterate, stupid! :->
UNI Colloquial, very common
Let’s keep adding, unics!
Stay on top, Jack Halpern
Kanji Dictionary Publishing Society 1-3-502 3-Chome Niiza, Niiza-shi, Saitama
352 JAPAN Voice: +81-048-481-3103 Fax: +81-048-479-1323
Cranfield Computer Centre wrote: |> |> “Look at that man riding a…” |> |> And at this point they realise they have no word for it, and they don’t know |> enough about etymology to hazard a guess at the right one, so the best they |> can do is |> |> “…one wheeled bike!”
So the list grows.
UNICYCLE Stanard American
MONOCYCLE Traditional (obsolescent?) British
ONE-WHEELED VEHICLE “Scientific”
ICICLE Colloquial (I know one family who use it)
IKE Colloquial (not sure where from – attested)
YIKE Colloquial (according to Adam Stork)
ONE-WHEELER Unattested, but I think I’ve heard it
ONE-WHEEL BICYCLE Unattested, uneducated
BIKE Substandard, uneducated, illiterate, stupid! :-> 10. UNI Colloquial,
very common
ONE-WHEELED BICYCLE Colloquial, uneducated
ONE-WHEELED BIKE Colloquial, uneducated
At 12 and still counting. Any more?
Stay on top,
Jack Halpern, IUF Vice President
Kanji Dictionary Publishing Society 1-3-502 3-Chome Niiza, Niiza-shi, Saitama
352 JAPAN Voice: +81-048-481-3103 Fax: +81-048-479-1323
> 7. ONE-WHEELER Unattested, but I think I’ve heard it
Germans use EINRAD, I believe? Maybe someone is translating back from this.
> 8. ONE-WHEEL BICYCLE Unattested, uneducated
I’ve heard this used several times, always by small children who (I guess) have
never seen a uni before. Generally, they look up and see me, then tug at Mummy’s
hand and with wide eyes, say,
“Look at that man riding a…”
And at this point they realise they have no word for it, and they don’t
know enough about etymology to hazard a guess at the right one, so the best
they can do is
“…one wheeled bike!”
Rather sweet really. Of course, the really amusing bit is where neither Mummy
nor Daddy know “unicycle” either, and have to make up a convincing word for
the child.
Peter Lister Email: p.lister@cranfield.ac.uk Computer Centre, Cranfield
University Voice: +44 1234 754200 ext 2828 Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL UK
Fax: +44 1234 751814 – In a minute, I’ll be talking to the Albanian ambassador
– -- about why Norman Wisdom is a hero in his country (Newsnight) –