axle

[ak-suhl]

noun

1. Machinery.,  the pin, bar, shaft, or the like, on which or by means of which a wheel or pair of wheels rotates.

2. the spindle at either end of an axletree.

3. an axletree.

axle

/ ˈæksəl /

noun

1. a bar or shaft on which a wheel, pair of wheels, or other rotating member revolves

Other Word Forms

• axled adjective
• unaxled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of axle¹

before 900; Middle English axel, Old English eaxl shoulder, crossbeam (in eaxle-gespann ); cognate with Old Frisian ax ( e ) le, Old Saxon ahsla, Old High German ahsala shoulder ( German Achsel ), Old Norse ǫxl, Latin āla (< derivative of *akslā )

Word History and Origins

Origin of axle¹

C17: from Old Norse öxull; related to German Achse; see _axis ¹

Example Sentences

Ferrari started lifting the hood on its first fully electric vehicle at an event that highlighted a new electric axle, motor and battery pack set to be made in-house.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A coroner concluded Mr Burton's death was accidental as the axle stand which was holding up the vehicle had tipped onto its side, trapping him underneath.

Read more on BBC

And that has been because of a specific issue with the car that has affected him more than Piastri - a lack of feel from the front axle.

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Norris has felt this year that a lack of feeling from the front axle of the car has been provoking mistakes when he has tried to push to the absolute limit in qualifying.

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Maloney and his father, also named Brian, run the operation, located in Boston, which boasts that it can repair anything “from two axles to ten.”

Read more on Salon