dead man’s pedal
n.— «Hardly noticeable, under his right foot, is a small pedal—resembling the clutch pedal on your automobile. “That’s called ’dead man’s pedal’,” Charlie explains. “The weight of my foot holds it down. If for any reason my foot should be removed—in case of heart failure or if I should be thrown from the seat—the motors would be switched off and the brakes locked.”» —“High For Streamliners” by Andy Hamilton Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine June 20, 1937. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
The word filibuster has a long and colorful history, going back to the days when pirates roamed the high seas. Today it refers to hijacking a piece of legislation. Plus, the language of yoga teachers: When doing a guided meditation, you may hear...
Understanding the varieties of conversational styles can mean the difference between feeling you’re understood and being insulted. “High-involvement” speakers interrupt or talk along with someone else to signal their enthusiasm...