Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Arbusculae

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

ARBUS'CULAE (ἁμαξόποδες). Strong wooden collars, or rings fastened underneath a cart (plaustrum) or under an engine of war, for the purpose of receiving the axle, which revolved together with its wheels in these collars, in the same manner as now seen in a child's go-cart (Vitruv. x. 14. 1. Ginzrot, Wagen und Fahrwerke, i. 91. 3.). When the wheels revolved upon their axle, as was usual for carriages (currus), the axle was of course a fixture, and arbusculae were not necessary.