dead-ax wagon n Also dead-ex wagon Also sp dead-axe wagon [Varr of dead-axle wagon (at dead axle n); cf ax n, ex n1] chiefly West, sNEng old-fash
A springless wagon.
1866 ID Tri-Weekly Statesman (Boise) 9 Jan [2]/2, At the Weiser we exchanged our stage for a “dead axe” lumber wagon. 1877 Hartford Daily Courant (CT) 27 Mar [2]/8, [Advt:] Wanted—One single horse light dead-ex wagon. 1881 ID Semi-Weekly World (Idaho City) 7 June [3]/2, The driver was u[n]able to get the stage coach back to the road, so he transfered [sic] his load to a dead-ax wagon, and arrived here only a few minutes behind the usual time. 1903 Anaconda Std. (MT) 3 May sec 2 5/3, There are lots of those old boys here yet, and they ought to pile into a big dead-ax wagon, an old-time wagon drawn by mules or oxen, like they used to be drawn. 1907 NW Tribune (Stevensville MT) 7 June [2]/1, “Why is the year 1907 like a dead-ex wagon?” “Because it has no spring.” 1911 Rural Californian 35.8/1, Dead ax wagons, poor bolster springs, chuck holes, and careless handling of crates are bad for eggs and most as bad for grapes. 1919 Springfield Daily Republican (MA) 17 Mar 13/8, [Advt:] 1:30 p. m. we shall sell 4 double dump carts, 4 dead axe wagons, 3 heavy team harnesses. 1927 Helena Independent (MT) 9 Dec 10/2, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Prochnow . . left Anaconda this morning. . . The Prochnows have their household goods loaded on a dead-axe wagon. 1960 Boston Globe (MA) 30 Nov 42/5, The dead-ex wagon still persists in some rural communities in the form of the hayrack or farm wagon. 1967 DARE (Qu. N41b, Horse-drawn vehicles to carry heavy loads) Inf OR3, Dead-ex wagon—no springs; (Qu. N41c, . . Light loads) Inf NV2, Light, dead-ax wagon—no springs, i.e., dead axle. 1978 Doig This House 39 MT (as of c1920), The [sheep-shearing] crew had a dead-ax wagon to haul its outfit in.