downchangen.
/ˈdaʊntʃeɪn(d)ʒ/, U.S. /ˈdaʊnˌtʃeɪndʒ/ A change to a lower gear on a motor vehicle.
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society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > [noun] > driving or operating a motor vehicle > operating clutch or gears
change1895
downchange1907
gear-changing1909
change-down1910
gear-change1912
change up1913
shift1915
declutching1925
slipping1925
upshift1951
double-clutching1954
upshifting1956
1907 Motor Traction 17 Aug. 179/1 When effecting the ‘down’ change, care should be taken not to push down the clutch pedal too far.
1933 Observer 12 Mar. 23/4 The gear-box now has a synchro-mesh third speed, whereby..the down-change from top to third, is made easier.
1969 Country Life 11 Dec. 1613/2 The car tested had..its neat, central change lever on the floor... Quick down-changes for overtaking are incorporated.
1989 Guardian (Nexis) 17 July He missed a downchange into third gear and spun into the sand trap.
2016 AutoCar (Nexis) 14 Dec. These pedals are so expertly positioned that they make heel-and-toe downchanges childishly simple.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
downchangev.
/ˈdaʊntʃeɪn(d)ʒ/, U.S. /ˈdaʊnˌtʃeɪndʒ/, Australian English /ˈdæɔntʃæen(d)ʒ/, New Zealand English /ˈdæuntʃæen(d)ʒ/ Chiefly Australian and New Zealand.
intransitive. To change to a lower gear on a motor vehicle.
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1988 Sun Herald (Sydney) 2 Oct. (Navy Souvenir ed.) 67/1 On a clear lap, Johnson will brake and downchange.
1996 Independent on Sunday 14 Apr. 77/3 You can't stall, you can still downchange quickly for snap acceleration.
2000 Australian (Nexis) 18 May 16 The sequential shift does become a bit tricky and jerky if downchanging between third and second.
2016 What Car? (Nexis) 22 Sept. 26 Citroën's new auto 'box is less convincing. On twisting B-roads, it's slow to respond..and downchanges mid-corner.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1907v.1988