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shaft Definition

shaft (s̸haft, s̸häft)

noun

    1. the long stem or body of an arrow or spear
    2. an arrow or spear
  2. a missile or something that seems to be hurled like a missile; bolt shafts of lightning, derision, etc.
  3. a cone or column of light; ray; beam
  4. a long, slender part or object; specif.,
    1. Rare the trunk of a tree or stem of a plant
    2. the stem or rib of a feather
    3. the midsection of a long bone
    4. the supporting stem of a branched candlestick
    5. a column or obelisk; also, the main, usually cylindrical, part between the ends of a column or pillar; verge
    6. a flagpole
    7. a tall, slender building or part of a building; spire
    8. a handle, as on some tools or implements
    9. either of the two poles between which an animal is harnessed to a vehicle; thill
    10. a bar, usually cylindrical, for supporting or transmitting motion to a wheel, pulley, gear, cam, etc. the drive shaft of an engine
  5. a long, narrow, vertical or slanting passage sunk into the earth a mine shaft
  6. a vertical opening passing through the floors of a building, as for an elevator
  7. a conduit for air, as used in heating and ventilating

Etymology: ME schaft < OE sceaft, akin to Ger schaft < IE base *(s)kap-, to cut with a sharp tool > shave, Gr skapos, rod, L scapus, shaft, stalk

transitive verb

Slang to cheat, trick, exploit, etc.

shaft Idioms

get the shaft

Slang to be cheated, tricked, etc.

give someone the shaft

Slang to cheat or trick someone

shaft Synonyms

shaft

n.

  1. Rod

    stem, handle, bar, cylinder, pole; see also rod 1.

  2. A weapon

    arrow, spear, lance, missile; see weapon 1.

  3. Light ray

    wave, streak, beam of light; see beam 2, ray.

give someone the shaft*

cheat, trick, mistreat; see abuse 1.

shaft Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • sunlight: A shaft of brilliant sunlight fell through the dusty layers of a horse chestnut tree, landing on the velvet vows of her shoes.
  • wagon: January 20 th 1866 Thomas Chatteris of Pentelow was fined 5s for riding on the shafts of a wagon at Stansfield.
  • penis: Like the course of a river, the flight of a comet, the shaft of a penis, everything has a natural length.

Converse of object

  • descend: The State of the Pit At midnight there were many men present ready on the least call for volunteers to descend the shaft.
  • spline: This is the long splined shaft with a sixteen tooth spur gear at one end on which are mounted the other countershaft gears.
  • prop: From the prop shaft we ascended up the line to meet with Bob's boat.
  • rotate: Introduction The roller chain is used to transmit motion between rotating shafts via sprockets mounted on the shafts.
  • sink: Consequently little remains to identify the sites of the three shafts sunk during working of the mine.

Adjective modifier

  • downcast: He also criticized the positioning of lamp stations, between which and the downcast shaft naked lights and unlocked lamps were allowed.
  • upcast: The fire was discovered by smoke in the upcast shaft.
  • vertical: The main pit was a vertical shaft like a lift shaft.
  • octagonal: The nave arcades are of four bays, with octagonal shafts, molded capitals and bases, and pointed arches of two chamfered orders.
  • upright: Although redundant, the wallower was left on the upright shaft.

Modifies a noun

encoder: The selected design was a cam drive mechanism with a shaft encoder to operate a reflector.

Noun used with modifier

  • graphite: Fitted with a high quality Ram graphite shaft for extra distance.
  • propeller: Here he worked on the stress on propeller shafts.
  • ventilation: Opposite Victoria Dock is another ventilation shaft for the tunnels under the river.
  • cardan: All opening door locks, cardan shafts and wheel sets etc. are certified to Railtrack Group standards.
  • rocker: Check for wear on the underside of rocker shafts, on either side of the pedestals.
  • elevator: The magnetic system is inside the walls of the elevator shaft, there are no normal electrical controls.