Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Axis

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

AXIS (ἄξων). The axle-tree of a carriage to which the pole is affixed, and round which the wheels revolve (Ov. Met. ii. 317.), which is clearly seen in the illustration (Axis/1.1) from an ancient bronze car preserved in the Vatican; but in waggons of the kind called plaustra, the axle tree was not a fixture, but revolved together with the wheels in nuts or sockets screwed on to the bottom of the cart; see ARTEMON.

2. Axis versatilis. A revolving cylinder, such as is worked by a windlass for drawing up weights, by twisting the cord round about itself, like the roller and windlass by which a bucket is drawn out of a well, as illustrated by the annexed engraving (Axis/2.1) from a marble sarcophagus in the Vatican cemetery. Vitruv. ix. 8. 8.

3. The upright axis of a door, which worked in sockets let into the upper and lower lintel, and so formed a pivot upon which the door turned when opened or shut. Stat. Theb. i. 349. See ANTEPAGMENTUM and CARDO.

4. The valve of a water pipe or cock; in which sense the proper reading is ASSIS.

5. A plank; also properly written ASSIS.

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  Axis/1.1
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  Axis/2.1