from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Axle \Ax"le\ ([a^]ks"'l), n. [OE. axel, exel, shoulder, AS.
eaxl; akin to AS. eax axle, Sw. & Dan. axel shoulder, axle,
G. achse axle, achsel shoulder, L. axis axle, Gr. 'a`xwn,
Skr. aksha, L. axilla shoulder joint: cf. F. essieu, axle,
OF. aissel, fr. dim. of L. axis. [root]205. Cf. 2d {Axis}.]
1. The pin or spindle on which a wheel revolves, or which
revolves with a wheel.
[1913 Webster]
2. A transverse bar or shaft connecting the opposite wheels
of a car or carriage; an axletree.
[1913 Webster]
3. An axis; as, the sun's axle.
[1913 Webster]
Had from her axle torn
The steadfast earth. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Railway axles are called leading and trailing from
their position in the front or in the rear of a car or
truck respectively.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
AXLE
An early string processing language. Program consists of an
assertion table which specifies patterns, and an imperative
table which specifies replacements. "AXLE: An Axiomatic
Language for String Transformations", K. Cohen et al, CACM
8(11):657-661 (Nov 1965).