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Today it means

axis

an imaginary line about which a body rotates

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Where does the word "axis" come from? It comes from Latin axis, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "axis" come from? It comes from Latin axis, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).

Axis’s story begins in Latin: axis meant “axle.” Related to Greek 'axōn'. It reached English by 1540s as axis. The 'Axis powers' of World War II date from 1936. Today, axis means an imaginary line about which a body rotates.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient axis "axle", related to Greek 'axōn'.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1540s axis "axis", the 'Axis powers' of World War II date from 1936.

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