Axle

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
axle
    n 1: a shaft on which a wheel rotates
    
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).
    

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