axel

¹

[ ak-suhl ]

noun

, Figure Skating.

1. a jump performed by a skater leaping from the front outer edge of one skate into the air to make 1½ rotations of the body and landing on the back outer edge of the other skate.

Axel

²

[ ak-suhl ]

noun

1. a male given name.

axel

/ ˈæksəl /

noun

1. skating a jump in which the skater takes off from the forward outside edge of one skate, makes one and a half, two and a half, or three and a half turns in the air, and lands on the backward outside edge of the other skate

Word History and Origins

Origin of axel¹

First recorded in 1925–30; after Axel Paulsen (1855–1938), Norwegian figure skater, who popularized the maneuver

Word History and Origins

Origin of axel¹

C20: named after Axel Paulsen (died 1938), Norwegian skater

Example Sentences

Four prisoners, Axel and Oscar (who turned out to be good guys) and Tomas and Andrew (thugs), all died as well.

From The Daily Beast

How did Obama pull off this political equivalent of a triple axel?

From The Daily Beast

Is an Adrian or an Austin more likely to be sensitive; an Axel more of a renegade; an Andrew more of an old-fashioned guy?

From The Daily Beast

From Axel Olrik, though my debt to him is heavy, I find myself differing on several questions.

From Project Gutenberg

And she seemed to like Sir Axel's company—as, indeed, most people would.

From Project Gutenberg

But Sir Axel and his assiduity enhanced her value and buttressed her independence.

From Project Gutenberg

Now Axel Martini had taken part in the “May-combat” this year, and had come off victorious.

From Project Gutenberg

Something tells me that things won't be right between Axel and me again.

From Project Gutenberg