rickshaw

noun

rick·​shaw ˈrik-ˌshȯ 

variants or less commonly ricksha

plural rickshaws also rickshas

: any of various small doorless passenger vehicles used chiefly in Asia:

a

: a small 2-wheeled vehicle that is pulled by a person on foot, that holds one or two passengers, and that often has a folding top to protect the passenger seat

b

: a tricycle that has a seat for one or two passengers, a separate seat for a driver who pedals, and often a folding top to protect the passenger seat : pedicab

c

: a small three-wheeled motorized vehicle that typically has a driver's seat in front, a small passenger compartment in back, and a folding top or hardtop

Examples of rickshaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The last three movies have largely stuck to the rural Valley of Peace, so the filmmakers change it up this time and take Po and Zhen to an urban environment, Juniper City, packed with busy animals, rickshaws, and bulls as police officers (watch for a hilarious bull-in-a-jade-shop joke). —Mark Kennedy, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024

The rickshaw also carried police officers assigned to protect polio workers. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

The government has also imposed a ban on three-wheelers known as rickshaws and halted construction in certain areas to reduce the pollution levels. —Reuters, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024

The extreme pollution prompted Lahore officials to close primary schools for one week and place restrictions on barbecue restaurants, motorcycle rickshaws, and construction activities. —Sophia Saifi, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of jinrikisha

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rickshaw

noun

rick·​shaw

variants also ricksha

ˈrik-ˌshȯ 

: a small hooded carriage with two wheels that is pulled by one person and was used originally in Japan