χνόας. The wooden nave (717), in which the axle turned, was broken across (μέσας) by striking the “στήλη”, and the left wheel came off. “χνόας” might also denote the end of the axle itself (“ἀκραξόνιον”): but it seems needless to assume this sense, which is less suited to “μέσας” ( Tr. 781“μέσου” | “κρατὸς διασπαρέντος”). So in Eur. Hipp. 1234, the wheels have struck a stone, “σύριγγές τ᾽ ἄνω” | “τροχῶν ἐπήδων” (the nave flew off) “ἀξόνων τ᾽ ἐνήλατα” (the linch-pins).
