Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary -- Volume AB

Had from her axle torn
The steadfast earth.
Milton.

Railway axles are called leading and trailing from their position in the front or in the rear of a car or truck respectively.

Ax"le box` (?).

1. A bushing in the hub of a wheel, through which the axle passes.

2. The journal box of a rotating axle, especially a railway axle.

In railway construction, the axle guard, or pedestal, with the superincumbent weight, rests on the top of the box (usually with a spring intervening), and holds it in place by flanges. The box rests upon the journal bearing and key, which intervene between the inner top of the box and the axle.

Ax"led (?), a. Having an axle; -- used in composition.

Merlin's agate-axled car.
T. Warton.

Ax"le guard` (?). The part of the framing of a railway car or truck, by which an axle box is held laterally, and in which it may move vertically; -- also called a jaw in the United States, and a housing in England.

Ax"le·tree` (?), n. [Cf. Icel. öxultr?.]

1. A bar or beam of wood or iron, connecting the opposite wheels of a carriage, on the ends of which the wheels revolve.

2. A spindle or axle of a wheel. [Obs.]

Ax"man (?), n.; pl. Axmen (?). One who wields an ax.

Ax"min·ster (?), n., or Axminster carpet . (a) [More fully chenille Axminster.] A variety of Turkey carpet, woven by machine or, when more than 27 inches wide, on a hand loom, and consisting of strips of worsted chenille so colored as to produce a pattern on a stout jute backing. It has a fine soft pile. So called from Axminster, England, where it was formerly (1755 -- 1835) made. (b) A similar but cheaper machine-made carpet, resembling moquette in construction and appearance, but finer and of better material.