unicorn
Preserved but no longer current.
A style of driving with two wheelers abreast and one leader—termed in the United States a "spike team." "Tandem" is one wheeler and one leader. "Random," three horses in line. "Manchester" means three horses abreast. See HARUM-SCARUM.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “unicorn” mean?
A style of driving with two wheelers abreast and one leader—termed in the United States a "spike team." "Tandem" is one wheeler and one leader. "Random," three horses in line. "Manchester" means three horses abreast. See HARUM-SCARUM.
Is “unicorn” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.