Meaning

noun a clutch (as on the rear wheel of a bicycle) that allows wheels to turn freely (as in coasting)

verb live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely

verb coast in a vehicle using the freewheel

originEtymology tree Proto-Indo-European *preyH- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *priHós Proto-Germanic *frijwaz Proto-West Germanic *friu Old English frēo Middle English fre English free Proto-Indo-European *kʷel- Proto-Indo-European *kʷekʷléh₂ Proto-Germanic *hweulō Old English hwēol Middle English whel English wheel English freewheel From free + wheel.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0