Cartwheel
the wheel of a cart.
an acrobatic feat in which a person starts from a standing position, with arms extended, and wheels the body sideways, landing first on the hands and then on the feet and usually repeating this in a series.
Slang. any large coin, especially a U.S. silver dollar.
Slang. an amphetamine tablet.
to roll forward end over end:
The skier took a sudden spill and cartwheeled down the slope.
Historical Examples
He was no more like the Chabert of the old box-coat than a cartwheel double sou is like a newly coined forty-franc piece.
Colonel Chabert Honore de Balzac
Say, you haven’t got a cartwheel instead of this wrapping paper, have you?
Free Air Sinclair Lewis
The brim of her cartwheel hat grated along his Derby, and they drew as close as fashion permitted.
The Gay Gnani of Gingalee Florence Huntley
Here has been cartwheel, your sweetheart; what will become of him?
The Recruiting Officer George Farquhar
Six feet o’ greaser gov’ner a-turnin’ a cartwheel in his own house!
Bring Me His Ears Clarence E. Mulford
He gave a shriek and dodged back, and a cartwheel shaved him narrowly.
The War of the Worlds H. G. Wells
Of course, there were plenty of cartwheel tracks; but they told nothing of interest to the troubled hardware dealer.
Carolyn of the Corners Ruth Belmore Endicott
Serious accident; a cartwheel passes over The Widow’s child.
Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia, Vol 2 (of 2) Thomas Mitchell
Wine and beer we have in plenty in the cellar, and the cheese I shall cut is as a cartwheel for bigness.
Not Quite Eighteen Susan Coolidge
But it was the dad and her at home I thought of, and could put my neck below the cartwheel for distressing.
The Shoes of Fortune Neil Munro
noun
the wheel of a cart, usually having wooden spokes and metal tyres
an acrobatic movement in which the body makes a sideways revolution supported on the hands with arms and legs outstretched
(US, slang) a large coin, esp the silver dollar
n.
late 14c., “wheel of a cart,” from cart (n.) + wheel (n.). Meaning “lateral somersault” is recorded from 1861; as a verb from 1907. Related: Cartwheeled; cartwheeling.
noun
A dollar, esp a silver dollar (1850+)
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