[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

shaft \shaft\, n. 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.
   1. the slender, smooth stem of an arrow; hence, an arrow.
      1913 webster

            his sleep, his meat, his drink, is him bereft,
            that lean he wax, and dry as is a shaft. --chaucer.
      1913 webster

            a shaft hath three principal parts, the stele
            stale, the feathers, and the head.  --ascham.
      1913 webster

   2. the long handle of a spear or similar weapon; hence, the
      weapon itself; fig. anything regarded as a shaft to be
      thrown or darted; as, shafts of light.
      1913 webster

            and the thunder,
            winged with red lightning and impetuous rage,
            perhaps hath spent his shafts.        --milton.
      1913 webster

            some kinds of literary pursuits . . . have been
            attacked with all the shafts of ridicule. --v. knox.
      1913 webster

   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 bot. the trunk, stem, or
      stalk of a plant.
      b zool. the stem or midrib of a feather. see illust.
          of feather.
      c the pole, or tongue, of a vehicle; also, a thill.
      d the part of a candlestick which supports its branches.
          1913 webster

                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.
          1913 webster
      e the handle or helve of certain tools, instruments,
          etc., as a hammer, a whip, etc.
      f a pole, especially a maypole. obs. --stow.
      g arch. the body of a column; the cylindrical pillar
          between the capital and base see illust. of
          column. also, the part of a chimney above the roof.
          also, the spire of a steeple. obs. or r. --gwilt.
      h a column, an obelisk, or other spire-shaped or
          columnar monument.
          1913 webster

                bid time and nature gently spare
                the shaft we raise to thee.       --emerson.
          1913 webster
      i weaving a rod at the end of a heddle.
      j mach. 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. see illust. of
          countershaft.
          1913 webster

   4. zool. 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.
      1913 webster

   5. cf. g. schacht. mining a well-like excavation in the
      earth, perpendicular or nearly so, made for reaching and
      raising ore, for raising water, etc.
      1913 webster

   6. a long passage for the admission or outlet of air; an air
      shaft.
      1913 webster

   7. the chamber of a blast furnace.
      1913 webster

   line shaft mach., a main shaft of considerable length, in
      a shop or factory, usually bearing a number of pulleys by
      which machines are driven, commonly by means of
      countershafts; -- called also line, or main line.

   shaft alley naut., a passage extending from the engine
      room to the stern, and containing the propeller shaft.

   shaft furnace metal., a furnace, in the form of a
      chimney, which is charged at the top and tapped at the
      bottom.
      1913 webster
see also:
scape scepter shave feather column countershaft 
thaumastura cora cora humming bird line shaft line main line 
shaft alley shaft furnace 

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