auto-rickshaw

noun

au·​to-rick·​shaw
variants or autorickshaw
plural auto-rickshaws or autorickshaws
: a motorized rickshaw
… superficial images of modernization are everywhere to be seen: auto-rickshaws, which are rapidly replacing horse-drawn tongas; stores stocked with the latest Western-style gadgetry …Fergus M. Bordewich, Atlantic, July 1986
"Horn Please" demand the signs on the backs of a million trucks blocking the road. All the other trucks, and cars, bikes, motor scooters, taxis, and … autorickshaws enthusiastically respond, welcoming Zafar and me with an energetic rendition of the traditional symphony of the Indian street.Salman Rushdie, New Yorker, 19 June 2000

Word History

Etymology

auto- entry 2 + rickshaw

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of auto-rickshaw was in 1958

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near auto-rickshaw

Cite this Entry

“Auto-rickshaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auto-rickshaw. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!