Etymology

axel

A1X8E1L1

Today it means: A jump that includes one (or more than one) complete turn and a half turn while in the air. Full definition →

Danish Aksel
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axel · noun, verb1

Named after Norwegian skater Axel Paulsen (1855–1938), who in 1882 became the first to perform the jump.

Axel · proper noun2

  1. Danish · derived fromAksel
  2. English todayAxel

From Danish Aksel, first used for the bishop and statesman Absalon Hvide (1128–1201), from biblical Absalom. Some sources suggest that the bishop was originally named Áskell, from Old Norse "god" + "cauldron, helmet", and Absalon was chosen as the nearest-sounding Christian equivalent, leading to the exchange of the middle consonants.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.