Forms: 5–6 axil, 5–8 axel, 6–7 axell, 7 axile, 7– axle. For earlier forms in comb., see AXLE-TREE. [Not in OE.; found in 13th c. in the compd. axle-tree, ON. öxul-tre (synonymous with the native AX-TREE), f. ON. öxull masc. = Goth. *ahsuls, OTeut. *ahsulo-z, deriv. of ahs-â; thence the simple axle has been since taken, and used in place of OE. æx, eax: see AX sb.2]
1. The center-pin or spindle upon which a wheel revolves, or which revolves along with it.
a. In carriages, properly, the rounded and more slender ends of the axle-tree, or the pegs fastened into the ends of the axle-tree, on which the wheel actually revolves; but used to include the axle-tree or axle-bar, especially when this is of one piece with the axles proper, or when it revolves with the wheels.
1634. Milton, Comus, 96. The gilded car of day His glowing axle doth allay In the steep Atlantic stream.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1721), 77. It turn’d upon two hinges in the nature of Axels.
1799. Turner, Anglo-Sax. (1828), I. v. 70. Chariots with scythes at the Axles.
1831. J. Holland, Manuf. Metals, I. 157. Iron axles are becoming almost as common as once they were rare.
1870. Bryant, Homer, II. XVI. 132. Full many a chief Fell under his own axle from the car.
1873. Daily News, 12 Sept., 4/3. The axle of a truck in a coal train broke.
b. A central spindle of a wheel which revolves along with it, as in the mechanical power called wheel-and-axle, and its applications.
1730. Desaguliers, Axis in Peritrochio, in Phil. Trans., XXXVI. 226. When we pull the Rope PA, we make the Axel … to wind itself up upon the Rope HD.
1829. U. K. S., Nat. Philos., I. Mechanics, II. vi. § 50. A modification of the lever, called the axle in the wheel.
c. fig. (Cf. ‘pivot.’)
1635. Austin, Medit., 194. Since he … makes that the Axell for all his Commendations to Moove on.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., I. Wks. 1851, 98. All the moments … of humane occasions are mov’d to and fro as upon the axle of discipline.
† 2. The BEAM of a loom, on which the warp or woven fabric is wound. Obs.
1635. Austin, Medit., 281. The wrought part [of a web] is fastned to, and wrapt up about the Axell.
† 3. The imaginary line about which a planet, or other body (or, in old cosmography, the heaven), revolves. Also, poet., the pole, the sky or heaven (cf. AXLE-TREE 4 b). Obs. exc. poet. (Replaced by AXIS.)
1596. Fitz-Geffrey, Sir F. Drake (1881), 20. None but old Atlas … Should under-prop the Axel of the west.
1635. N. Carpenter, Geogr. Del., I. iii. 67. The magneticall wier … will … make a circumuolution about his owne Axell.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Wks. (1711), 29/1. Heaven’s axile seems to bend.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 165. The earth … With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps On her soft Axle.
1713. Young, Last Day, I. 116. The blissful earth, who late At leisure on her axle roll’d in state.
1850. Mrs. Browning, Poet’s Vow, I. xviii. Since earth on axle ran!
4. Comb. and Attrib. Axle-bar, an iron bar serving the purpose of an axle-tree; axle-bearing (see quot.); axle-box, in a locomotive engine or railway carriage, the box, usually of cast iron, within which the ends of the axles revolve; axle-guards, the part of the frame in which the axle-box slides up and down as acted on by the springs; axle-journal, axle-neck, the polished end of the axle which revolves under the bearing in the axle-box; axle-nail, axle-pin, one of the two nails or pins used to fasten a cart to the axle-tree; axle-shaft, a driving shaft forming an extension of the axle of a wheel; † axle-wood, wood for axle-trees. See also AXLE-TREE.
1850. Weale, Dict. Terms, Axle bearing in locomotive engines, the gun-metal, or other metal bearing, under which the axle journal revolves [in the axle-box].
1828. Sir H. Steuart, Planter’s Guide 258. Three stages strongly bolted to the crossbar, or axle-bed (as our workmen term it).
1871. Daily News, 23 Feb., 6/3. First the wheels on one side, and then those on the other, sunk up to the axle-boxes.
1876. Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng., XLVI. 92. Ordinary grease axle-boxes weigh less than 3 cwt. the set.
1881. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., No. 21. 174/1. The distance of the hind axle-flaps from collars will be regulated by the width of the body across.
1485. Inv., in Ripon Ch. Acts (1882), 373. Axilnayles, 4d.
1530. Palsgr., 196/1. Axilnayle, cheuille daixevl.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 5. Lyn-pinnes of yren in the axiltre-endes . ii . axil-pynnes of yren, or els of tough harde wodde.
1837. Athenæum, No. 510. 565. Enabling the upright axle-shaft to turn the millstone without additional gear.
1870. Alford, in Life (1873), 443. I am again down on the axle-springs and must be braced up.
1562. Wills & Inv. N. C. (1860), 208. Axlewayne nales.
1405. Fabric Rolls York (1858), 34. MM. ascelwod empto 21s. 6d.
1562. MS. Acc. Bk. Vicars Choral, York. Pro ii thousandes & di. axellwodde.
