/ˈpɛdl or for 6–8, ˈpidl/Show Spelled[ped-l or for 6–8,peed-l]Show IPAnoun, verb, ped·aled, ped·al·ing or ( especially British ) ped·alled, ped·al·ling, adjective
noun
1.
a foot-operated lever used to control certain mechanisms, as automobiles, or to play or modify the sounds of certain musical instruments, as pianos, organs, or harps.
2.
a leverlike part worked by the foot to supply power in various mechanisms, as the bicycle.
3.
Music.
a.
a foot-operated keyboard, as on an organ or harpsichord.
a. any foot-operated lever or other device, esp one of the two levers that drive the chain wheel of a bicycle, the foot brake, clutch control, or accelerator of a car, one of the levers on an organ controlling deep bass notes, or one of the levers on a piano used to create a muted effect or sustain tone
b. (as modifier): a pedal cycle; a pianist's pedal technique
—vb , -als, -alling, -alled, -als, -aling, -aled
2.
to propel (a bicycle, boat, etc) by operating the pedals
3.
(intr) to operate the pedals of an organ, piano, etc, esp in a certain way
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.