Mech. Also 7 arber, 8 arbre. [a. F. arbre tree, also axis or principal piece of a wheel or machine; subseq. assimilated to L. arbor.] a. The main support or beam of a machine (e.g., of a crane or windmill); b. The axle or spindle on which a wheel revolves, esp. in clocks and watches. (Cf. axle-tree.) Arbor-chuck: (see quot.)
1659. Leak, Water-works, 28. To the Arber of the said Pinion there shall be a Wheel having 32 Teeth.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Crane, The modern crane consists of several members … the principal whereof is a strong perpendicular beam, or arbor.
1759. Pullein, in Phil. Trans., LI. 27. Two wheels … fixed upon one common arbre.
1847. Craig, Arbor-chuck … a chuck, consisting merely of a spindle, generally made of metal, projecting from the mandril of the lathe, used in turning and polishing rings, hollow cylinders, &c.
1857. Denison, Clocks & Locks, 4. The prolonged arbor of the centre wheel.
