† ˈax-tree Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: 3 axtreo, 4 exetree, 4–6 extre, 4–7 axtre, 5 axetre, 6–7 axtree, axe-tree, 6– (Sc.) extree, aixtree.
[f. ax n. + tree, in its sense of beam; repr. an OE. *eax-tréow. Cf. axle-tree from ON.]
1. The axle-tree of a wheel. (Still dial.)
| a 1230 Juliana 56 Þat axtreo stod istraht..in te twa stanene postles. 1388 Wyclif Ecclus. xxxiii. 5 An extre able to turne aboute [1611 a rolling axeltree]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 145 Exultre, or ex tre. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 399/2 The one whele..fyl of fro the axtre. 1566 in Invent. (1815) 166 (Jam.) Twa gross culverinis..mountit upoun their stokis, quheillis, and aixtreis. 1573 Cooper Thesaur., Axis, an extree. 1617 Janua Ling. 813 The axe tree..broken in the cart rut. 1675 Hobbes Odyss. 80 They mount into the chariot..The axtree groaned under them. Mod. Sc. The wheels cam off the aixtree. |
† 2. = axle. Obs.
| 1659 J. Leak Water-wks. 10 If two Wheels are equal..and there be unequal Weights fastened to their Ax-trees. |
† 3. = axis. Obs.
| 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. iii, The sterres..Whiche the axtree rounde aboute gone. 1551 Recorde Pathw. Knowl. i. Def., A right line drawen crosse these figures..called an axe lyne, or axtre. 1603 Drayton Bar. Warres vi. v, Two stedfast Poles, Twixt which this All doth on the Axtree move. 1657 Wright in Phil. Trans. LIII. 76 Two equal equidistant circles that have one common axtree. |