Hypertext Webster Gateway: "pedal"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pedal \Pe"dal\, a. [L. pedalis, fr. pes, pedis, foot. See
{Foot}, and cf. {Pew}.]
1. Of or pertaining to the foot, or to feet, literally or
figuratively; specifically (Zo["o]l.), pertaining to the
foot of a mollusk; as, the pedal ganglion.
2. Of or pertaining to a pedal; having pedals.
{Pedal curve} or {surface} (Geom.), the curve or surface
which is the locus of the feet of perpendiculars let fall
from a fixed point upon the straight lines tangent to a
given curve, or upon the planes tangent to a given
surface.
{Pedal note} (Mus.), the note which is held or sustained
through an organ point. See {Organ point}, under {Organ}.
{Pedal organ} (Mus.), an organ which has pedals or a range of
keys moved by the feet; that portion of a full organ which
is played with the feet.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pedal \Pe"dal\, n. [Cf. F. p['e]dale, It. pedale. See {Pedal},
a.]
1. (Mech.) A lever or key acted on by the foot, as in the
pianoforte to raise the dampers, or in the organ to open
and close certain pipes; a treadle, as in a lathe or a
bicycle.
2. (Geom.) A pedal curve or surface.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
pedal
adj : of or relating to the feet; "the word for a pedal extremity
is `foot'"
n 1: a sustained bass note [syn: {pedal point}]
2: a lever that is operated with the foot [syn: {treadle}, {foot
pedal}, {foot lever}]
v 1: ride a bicycle [syn: {bicycle}, {cycle}, {bike}, {wheel}]
2: operate the pedals on a keyboard instrument
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