▪ I. † ax, axe, n. Obs. or dial.
Forms: 1–2 eax, æx, ex; also (under ax-tree) 3–7 ax, 4 exe, 4–6 ex, 5–7 axe.
[Common Teutonic: OE. æx-e, eax-e, fem., is cogn. with MDu. and MLG. asse, from *ahse, Du. as, OHG. ahsa, MHG. ahse, mod.G. achse, OTeut. ahsâ-, fem., related to Skr. áksha, masc., Gr. ἄξων, L. axis, Lith. aszis, with same sense.]
The axle of a wheel; the axis of revolution. Not found after the OE. period exc. in compounds, as ax-nail, the nail or pin by which the axle-tree is fixed to a cart, and ax-tree, q.v.
| a 700 Epinal Gloss. 1/D 10 Axis, aex. c 885 K. ælfred Boeth. xxxix. §7 On wænes eaxe hwearfaþ þa hweól, and sió eax stent stille. c 1000 ælfric Man. Astron. (Wr.) 16 Axis þat is ex. 1585 Wills & Inv. N.C. (1860) 112, j long wayne without wheels, ij yron ax-nailes..and two ax-trees. |
▪ II. † ax, axe, v. Obs.
In 5 ex.
[f. ax n.]
To furnish with an axle.
| 1481–90 Howard Househ. Bks. 191 For boxyng a peyre wheles, and a fely uppon a nodyr, and for exyng of a carte. |
▪ III. ax
obs. or dial. form of ask v.