axis, is, m. [kindred with Gr. ἄξων; Sanscr. akshas = axle, wheel; old Germ. Ahsa; mod. Germ. Achse; Engl. axle, Bopp, Gloss. p. 2, a; cf. Aufrecht, Zeitschr. für vergl. Sprachf. 8, p. 71].
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.
a The pole , Luc. 7, 422: axis inocciduus, id. 8, 175: meridianus, Vitr. 6, 1.—
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.