lever vs spoke

lever

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

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

  • A levee. 

  • 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). 

spoke

noun
  • A support structure that connects the axle or the hub of a wheel to the rim. 

  • A projecting handle of a steering wheel. 

  • A rung of a ladder. 

  • One of the outlying points in a hub-and-spoke model of transportation. 

  • A device for fastening the wheel of a vehicle to prevent it from turning when going downhill. 

verb
  • simple past tense of speak 

  • To furnish (a wheel) with spokes. 

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