Cartwheel Full definition of cartwheel Noun The literal wheel of a cart. A gymnastic maneuver whereby the gymnast rotates to one side or the other while keeping arms and legs outstretched , spin ning for one or more revolutions. (UK, historical, obsolete slang ) A crown coin ; its value , 5 shilling s. 1859 , J.C. Hotten , A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words Half-a-crown is known as an alderman , half a bull , half a tusheroon , and a madza caroon ; whilst a crown piece, or five shilling s , may be called either a bull , or a caroon , or a cartwheel , or a coachwheel , or a thick-un , or a tusheroon .(US, historical, obsolete slang ) A silver dollar of the larger size produced before 1979. Verb To perform the gymnastics feat of a cartwheel. To flip end over end.The race car hit a bump and cartwheeled over the finish line. © Wiktionary