Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An abbreviated form of jinrikisha, in current colloquial use throughout the East.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A two-wheeled carriage pulled along by a person
  • verb to move someone by means of a rickshaw (noun sense)

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a small two-wheeled cart for one passenger; pulled by one person

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Japanese 力車 (rikisha), an abbreviation for 人力車 (jinrikisha, "human-powered vehicle").

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word rickshaw.

Examples

  • Her rickshaw is designed to record the conversations of her illustrious passengers, and she is rewarded based on what is overheard.

    Tides from the New Worlds: In the Heart of Kalikuata « A Working Title 2009

  • He called a rickshaw and climbed in and sat chilly and lonely while the man dragged the vehicle along the slippery running streets.

    PEARL BUCK IN CHINA Hilary Spurling 2010

  • He called a rickshaw and climbed in and sat chilly and lonely while the man dragged the vehicle along the slippery running streets.

    PEARL BUCK IN CHINA Hilary Spurling 2010

  • Standing at the busy thoroughfares, those such as Yonge and King are here, you can see the policeman holding up his hand to regulate the traffic, because the old rickshaw is there, the taxi-bus is there, the auto is there, and in company with these you can see the man wheeling the wheelbarrow, all competing to see who shall get the first place in this modern traffic of the twentieth century.

    Changing China 1912

  • We helped him to walk and presently, he called a rickshaw and got into it, thanking us profusely.

    EzineArticles 2010

  • On the seat of his rickshaw was a white advertising sticker:

    THE WHITE TIGER Aravind Adiga 2008

  • On calling a rickshaw I was much surprised to find that the man spoke English quite well.

    Through Central Borneo; an Account of Two Years' Travel in the Land of Head-Hunters Between the Years 1913 and 1917 Carl Lumholtz 1886

  • You don't need permission to ride a rickshaw, which is why there are lots of drivers from outside the EU.

    Evening Standard - Home Peter Dominiczak 2011

  • Travelling around India in a rickshaw might be a novelty for foreign travellers, and considering the steep price tag, is this targeted at Indians at all?

    Analysis 2010

  • Travelling around India in a rickshaw might be a novelty for foreign travellers, and considering the steep price tag, is this targeted at Indians at all?

    Analysis 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • "Like a rickshaw getting pulled around by another rickshaw" - Modest Mouse

    June 3, 2007

  • They were great in that Seinfeld episode.

    June 3, 2007

  • Shortened from the Japanese jinrikisha: jin, man + riki, strength, power + sha, vehicle

    October 22, 2008