Lexic.us

Definition of Shaft

1. Verb. Equip with a shaft.

2. Noun. A line that forms the length of an arrow pointer.

3. Verb. Defeat someone through trickery or deceit.

4. Noun. An aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect. "She takes a dig at me every chance she gets"

5. Noun. A long rod or pole (especially the handle of an implement or the body of a weapon like a spear or arrow).

6. Noun. A column of light (as from a beacon).

7. Noun. The main (mid) section of a long bone.

8. Noun. Obscene terms for penis.

9. Noun. A long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon.

10. Noun. A vertical passageway through a building (as for an elevator).

11. Noun. (architecture) upright consisting of the vertical part of a column.

12. Noun. A long vertical passage sunk into the earth, as for a mine or tunnel.

13. Noun. A revolving rod that transmits power or motion.

14. Noun. The hollow spine of a feather.

Definition of Shaft

1. n. The slender, smooth stem of an arrow; hence, an arrow.

Definition of Shaft

1. Noun. The long narrow body of a spear or arrow ¹

2. Noun. A beam or ray of light ¹

3. Noun. Any long thin object, such as the handle of a tool, one of the poles between which an animal is harnessed to a vehicle, the driveshaft of a motorized vehicle with rear-wheel drive, an axle, etc. ¹

4. Noun. The main axis of a feather ¹

5. Noun. (lacrosse) The long narrow body of a lacrosse stick ¹

6. Noun. A long narrow passage sunk into the earth, for mining etc; a mineshaft. ¹

7. Noun. A vertical or near-vertical cave passage. ¹

8. Noun. A vertical passage housing a lift or elevator; a liftshaft. ¹

9. Noun. A ventilation or heating conduit; an air duct. ¹

10. Noun. A malicious act, as in “to give someone the shaft” ¹

11. Noun. The main cylindrical part of the penis ¹

12. Verb. (transitive) to equip something with a shaft ¹

13. Verb. (transitive slang) To have sexual intercourse with someone ¹

14. Verb. (transitive slang) To cause someone harm, especially in a deceitful or treacherous way. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Shaft

1. to push or propel with a pole [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Shaft

1. 1. The slender, smooth stem of an arrow; hence, an arrow. "His sleep, his meat, his drink, is him bereft, That lean he wax, and dry as is a shaft." (Chaucer) "A shaft hath three principal parts, the stele [stale], the feathers, and the head." (Ascham) 2. The long handle of a spear or similar weapon; hence, the weapon itself; anything regarded as a shaft to be thrown or darted; as, shafts of light. "And the thunder, Winged with red lightning and impetuous rage, Perhaps hath spent his shafts." (Milton) "Some kinds of literary pursuits . . . Have been attacked with all the shafts of ridicule." (V. Knox) 3. That which resembles in some degree the stem or handle of an arrow or a spear; a long, slender part, especially when cylindrical. Specifically: (a) The stem or midrib of a feather. The pole, or tongue, of a vehicle; also, a thill. The part of a candlestick which supports its branches. "Thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold . . . His shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same." (Ex. Xxv. 31) The handle or helve of certain tools, instruments, etc, as a hammer, a whip, etc. A pole, especially a Maypole. The body of a column; the cylindrical pillar between the capital and base. Also, the part of a chimney above the roof. Also, the spire of a steeple. A column, an obelisk, or other spire-shaped or columnar monument. "Bid time and nature gently spare The shaft we raise to thee. " (Emerson) A solid or hollow cylinder or bar, having one or more journals on which it rests and revolves, and intended to carry one or more wheels or other revolving parts and to transmit power or motion; as, the shaft of a steam engine. 4. A humming bird (Thaumastura cora) having two of the tail feathers next to the middle ones very long in the male; called also cora humming bird. 5. [Cf. G. Schacht. A well-like excavation in the earth, perpendicular or nearly so, made for reaching and raising ore, for raising water, etc. 6. A long passage for the admission or outlet of air; an air shaft. 7. The chamber of a blast furnace. Line shaft, a furnace, in the form of a chimney, which is charged at the top and tapped at the bottom. Origin: OE. Shaft, schaft, AS. Sceaft; akin to D. Schacht, OHG. Scaft, G. Schaft, Dan. & Sw. Skaft handle, haft, Icel. Skapt, and probably to L. Scapus, Gr, a staff. Probably originally, a shaven or smoothed rod. Cf. Scape, Scepter, Shave. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Shaft

shadows shadowy shadrach shadrachs shads shaduf shadufs shady shaffle shaffled

shaffles shaffling shaffron shaffrons shafranovskite shaft bow shaft horsepower shaft louse shaft of femur shaft of fibula

shaft of humerus shaft of light shaft of radius shaft of tibia shaft of ulna shafted shafter shafters shaftin'

Literary usage of Shaft

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"For many years the attention of engineers and power users has been directed to the practicability of using the twist or torsion in a shaft as a means of ..."

2. Supreme Court Reporter by Robert Desty, United States Supreme Court, West Publishing Company (1918)
"Journaled In the cover is a vertical shaft (45), known as the dolly shaft. ... In operation the dolly shaft, and with it the dolly, is swung back and forth ..."

3. United States Supreme Court Reports by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1886)
"In bearings, E, In the front portion of the main frame, is hung, so as to rock or turn therein, a zigzag or crank shaft, F, (shown detached In Fig. 2. ..."

4. United States Supreme Court Reports by United States Supreme Court, Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, LEXIS Law Publishing (1901)
"and to tbe cranks or wrists, aaa, of this shaft are connected, seriatim, the drag bars, bbb, ... At suitable distances upon this shaft d there Is placed ..."

5. The Engineering Index Annual for by American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1909)
"Record shaft Sinking on the Rand Gold Field. Ralph Stokes. ... Sinking the Clonan shaft at Mineville, NY Guy C. Stoltz. Describes the conditions and the ..."

6. Journal by Iron and Steel Institute (1903)
"The most rapid appears to be 167 feet in an 11-foot shaft, but of course the ... L. Bouchut I describes the method of shaft sinking employed at the Pinel ..."

7. Report by Tasmania Dept. of Mines (1897)
"3 shaft the lode was driven upon for a similar distance. ... The main shaft cut the hanging-wall of the reef at 187 feet, and will be through the foot-wall ..."

Other Resources: