Vol. 10 · Portmanteaus ·Mid-century: TV and science ·1952
Moped
motor pedal
- Meaning
- A small motorcycle with auxiliary pedals.
- Source words
- motor + pedal
- Coined by
- Swedish journalist Harald Nielsen
- Year
- 1952
Background
Swedish *moped* (from *motor* + *pedaler*) was coined in a newspaper article on low-powered motorbikes. The word travelled across Europe with the vehicle.
Mid-century: TV and science
Two engines dominated: television (sitcom, televangelist) and post-war big science (pulsar, transistor). Many mid-century coinages came from scientific style sheets and industry journals.
Two words, one coinage.
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