Originally Posted by USMCPOP  Technically speaking, a live center is a solid center that is inserted into the headstock and revolves with the spindle. A dead center is one that goes in the tailstock and does not move with the work. Then years later, ball-bearing centers were introduced to confuse the terminology. Old references to "ball bearing dead center" and live center can be found. |
One instructor I had beat this terminology to death, in complete agreement with what you state. It seems the "wrong" way of saying it is much more common, so I've learned to just go with it.