I. Lit., an axletree, about which a round body, e.g. a wheel, turns: “faginus axis,” Verg. G. 3, 172: “axes aerii,” Vulg. 3 Reg. 7, 30; “7, 33: axis versatilis,” ib. Eccli. 33, 5 al.—Meton. (pars pro toto), a chariot, car, wagon, Ov. M. 2, 59; id. H. 4, 160; Sen. Herc. Oet. 1442; Sil. 16, 360 al.—Plur., Ov. M. 2, 148; 4, 634.—
II. Transf.
A. The axle of a water-clock, Vitr. 9, 6.—
B. The axis of the earth: mundum versari circum axem caeli, Cic. N. D. 1, 20, 52; so id. Ac. 2, 39, 123; id. Tim. 10; Lucr. 6, 1107.—Hence, meton.
b. Esp., the north pole, Lucr. 6, 720; Cic. Tusc. 1, 28, 68; Verg. G. 2, 271; 3, 351; Ov. P. 4, 7, 2; Manil. 4, 589.—
c. The whole heavens: “maximus Atlas Axem umero torquet stellis ardentibus aptum,” Verg. A. 4, 482; 6, 536; Ov. M. 1, 255; 2, 75; 2, 297; 6, 175; id. Tr. 1, 2, 46; Stat. Th. 5, 86; id. S. 3, 3, 76 al.—Hence, sub axe, under the open heaven, Verg. A. 2, 512; 8, 28.—
d. A region of the heavens, a clime: “boreus,” the north, Ov. Tr. 4, 8, 41: “hesperius,” the west, id. M. 4, 214; Luc. 3, 359.—
C. A pin or hook on which a hinge turns, Stat. Th. 1, 346.—
D. The valve of a pipe, Vitr. 10, 12.—
E. Axes volutarum, in archit., the axes of a volute, Vitr. 3, 3.—
F. A board, plank, Caes. B. C. 2, 9; Vitr. 4, 2; 7, 1; Col. 6, 30, 2; Plin. 36, 25, 62, § 187; Luc. 3, 455; Gell. 2, 12 al.—
G. An unknown wild animal in India, Plin. 8, 21, 31, § 76.