Where does “dead axle” come from?

dead axle (English) comes from English dead, from English -en, from Middle English -en, from Old English -en, from Old Norse -inn, from Proto-Norse -īna-, from Proto-Germanic -īnaz, from Proto-Indo-European -iHnos — adjectival suffix.

dead axle (English): An axle that supports wheels, but does not transmit power to them

Definitions

  1. An axle that supports wheels, but does not transmit power to them

Ancestry of “dead axle”, step by step

dead axle traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English dead

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdeadNo longer living; Devoid of life; Figuratively,...
2English-enDenotes the past participle form when attached to...
3Middle English-enDenotes the past participle form when attached to...
4Old English-enmæġþ + API → mæġden; cocc + API → cycen, cicen;...
5Old Norse-innUsed to create adjectives from nouns, meaning...
6Proto-Norse-īna-
7Proto-Germanic-īnaz-en
8Proto-Indo-European-iHnosCreates adjectives of materials
9Proto-Indo-European-no-adjectival suffix

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
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -no-