axel

[ak-suh l]

noun Figure Skating.

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.

Origin of axel

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

Can be confusedaxel axle

Axel

[ak-suh l]

noun

a male given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for axel

Four prisoners, Axel and Oscar (who turned out to be good guys) and Tomas and Andrew (thugs), all died as well.
A Primer For ‘The Walking Dead’ Season Four Premiere|Melissa Leon|October 11, 2013|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?
2010's Hot Boy Baby Name Trend|Pamela Redmond Satran/Nameberry|November 9, 2010|DAILY BEAST
"You will miss your train," said Axel, pulling out his watch.
The Benefactress|Elizabeth Beauchamp
"Well, good-night," she added in English, holding out her hand to Axel.
The Benefactress|Elizabeth Beauchamp

She had relatives there, however; one in particular—a Baron von Ziegelmundt and his son Axel.
Cleek of Scotland Yard|Thomas W. Hanshew
Axel is so dreadfully profound, and if a poor girl cannot always follow it, why it is nothing to be astonished at.
On the Seaboard|August Strindberg
And when she had heard all that could be told her there, she was going to Axel himself.
The Benefactress|Elizabeth Beauchamp

British Dictionary definitions for axel

axel

noun

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 Origin for axel

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for axel

skating jump, 1930, named for Norwegian skater Axel Paulsen (1855-1938).