Where does “axleweight” come from?

axleweight (English) comes from English axle, from Middle English axil, from Old English eax, from Proto-Germanic ahsō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱs-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- — to drive.

Ancestry of “axleweight”, step by step

axleweight traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English axle

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishaxleShoulder; The pin or spindle on which a wheel...
2Middle Englishaxilaxle
3Old Englisheaxaxis, axle
4Proto-Germanicahsōaxle
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱs-axis, axle
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive

via English weight

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishweightThe force on an object due to the gravitational...
2Middle Englishweight—
3Old Englishwihtcreature, person, thing, being; weight
4LatinVectisIsle of Wight
5Proto-Celticwextātime, course, turn
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵʰ-to bring; to transport
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- →
axleweight — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer