Sulky

The sulky is the light, two-wheeled cart used in harness racing. It is derived from a single-seat cart for pleasure driving. In its modern form, the sulky consists of a U-shaped shaft mounted on two wheels, with a seat for the driver at the bowl of the U. When first used for harness racing in the early 19th century the sulky weighed about 125 lbs. Through the addition of ball bearings, pneumatic tires and other technological refinements, the sulky, as currently employed in harness racing, weighs only about 1/5 that original weight.

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica http://www.britannica.com

Sulk"y (?), a. [Compar. Sulkier (?); superl. Sulkiest.] [See Sulkiness, and cf. Sulky, n.]

Moodly silent; sullen; sour; obstinate; morose; splenetic.

Syn. -- See Sullen.

 

© Webster 1913.

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Sulk"y, n.; pl. Sulkies (#). [From Sulky, a.; -- so called from the owner's desire of riding alone.]

A light two-wheeled carriage for a single person.

⇒ Sulky is used adjectively in the names of several agricultural machines drawn by horses to denote that the machine is provided with wheels and a seat for the driver; as, sulky plow; sulky harrow; sulky rake, etc.

 

© Webster 1913.