Definition

A light, two-wheeled cart pulled by one or more people on foot, or pedaled like a tricycle, commonly used as a form of transportation in East and South Asia. Modern rickshaws are often motorized and serve as taxis in urban areas.

Example Usage

We took a colorful auto-rickshaw through the crowded streets of Delhi to reach the market.

Origin

From Japanese 'jinrikisha' (人力車), meaning 'human-powered vehicle', contracted to 'rickshaw' in English.

Fun Fact

Rickshaws were invented in Japan in the 1870s and quickly spread throughout Asia, where they became an iconic symbol of urban transportation.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

Related Terms

Advanced

Perspicuously

In a manner that is clear, transparent, and easy to understand; expressed with lucidity and directness.

🎓 Education / Academia
Intermediate

Capricious

Given to sudden, unplanned changes in mood or behavior; unpredictable and impulsive, often governed by whim rather than reason. Describes both people and circumstances that are erratic.

🎓 Education / Academia
Intermediate

noir

A moody, dark aesthetic genre featuring cynical protagonists, shadowy cinematography, and morally ambiguous characters—basically what your life looks like at 2 AM when you're doom-scrolling. Often used to describe anything with brooding, mysterious vibes.

🎓 Education / Academia
Beginner

academic honesty statement

The obligatory declaration students must sign promising not to cheat, as if a checkbox has ever stopped someone determined to commit fraud. It's the educational equivalent of 'terms and conditions'—everyone agrees without reading.

🎓 Education / Academia
Intermediate

fosse

A long, narrow depression on a celestial body or a fancy term for a groove in the ground—basically nature's way of saying 'I'm keeping this stuff.' Also happens to be a ferocious Madagascan carnivore that looks perpetually unimpressed with your existence.

🎓 Education / Academia
Beginner

Adjunct

A professor who teaches the same courses as a tenured faculty member but for the salary of a particularly ambitious lemonade stand operator. They are the academic equivalent of a streaming service's free trial -- essential to operations but not valued enough for a subscription.

🎓 Education / Academia

Translate This Term

See “rickshaw” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on XShare on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Intermediate

Syllogism

A form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion that logically follows fr...