semiaxius

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

sēmĭ-axĭus, ii, m. [axis],

an appellation of the early Christians , derived from the manner of their martyrdom : licet nunc sarmentitios et semiaxios appelletis, quia ad stipitem dimidii axis revincti, sarmentorum ambitu uriemur, Tert. Apol. 50.