wheelie

Definition

A stunt where a rider lifts the front wheel of a bicycle, motorcycle, or other vehicle off the ground while balancing on the rear wheel.

Example Usage

The skateboarder attempted to hold a wheelie down the length of the parking lot.

Origin

Compound of 'wheel' and the suffix '-ie', popularized in BMX and motorcycle culture in the 1970s.

Fun Fact

Professional BMX riders can hold wheelies for hundreds of meters, and the longest recorded wheelie on a motorcycle exceeded 145 kilometers.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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

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