crankshaft vs lever

crankshaft

noun
  • A rotating shaft that drives (or is driven by) a crank. 

verb
  • To deform in such a manner that part of the rod or bolt is displaced sideways, offset from the longitudinal axis of the part, but remains parallel with the part's main longitudinal axis, with the final shape somewhat resembling a crankshaft. 

lever

noun
  • An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it. 

  • A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it. 

  • A levee. 

  • A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for transmitting and modifying force and motion. 

  • A small such piece to trigger or control a mechanical device (like a button). 

  • Specifically, a bar of metal, wood or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is of three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P, respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures. 

verb
  • To use, operate or move (something) like a lever (physically). 

  • To move with a lever. 

  • To increase the share of debt in the capitalization of a business. 

  • To use (something) like a lever (in an abstract sense). 

How often have the words crankshaft and lever occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )