Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “axis” come from?

Axis comes from Latin axis, which derives from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱs-, itself from h₂eǵ-, tracing back through further Proto-Indo-European forms h₂eḱs- and h₂eǵ-.

axis (English): An imaginary line around which an object spins ...

Definitions

  1. An imaginary line around which an object spins ...

Ancestry of “axis”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatinaxisAn axletree of wagon, car, chariot; The North...
2Proto-Italicaksis—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱs-axis, axle
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive

Words derived from “axis”

  • axial
  • coaxial
  • uniaxial
  • axially
  • triaxial
  • biaxial
  • atlantoaxial
  • paraxial
  • multiaxial
  • neuraxis
  • adaxial
  • subaxial
  • abaxial
  • transaxial
  • coaxially
  • uniaxially
  • multiaxis
  • axiality
  • polyaxial
  • triaxiality
  • biaxially
  • postaxial
  • interaxial
  • epaxial
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- →