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   shaft

   /ʃɑːft/

   noun

   • 1. a long, narrow part or section forming the handle of a tool or club, the body of a spear or arrow, or similar: "the shaft of a golf club" Similar polestickrodstaffshankuprighthandlehiltbuttstockstemhistorical:pikestaffthillrare:helvequilltechnical:rachis
   • ▪ an arrow or spear.
   • ▪ a column, especially the main part between the base and capital.
   • ▪ a long cylindrical rotating rod for the transmission of motive power in a machine.
   • ▪ each of the pair of poles between which a horse is harnessed to a vehicle: "the shafts of a horse-drawn wagon"
   • 2. a ray of light or bolt of lightning: "a shaft of sunlight" Similar raybeamgleamstreakpencilfingerbarliterary:lance
   • ▪ a sudden flash of a quality or feeling: "a shaft of inspiration"
   • ▪ a remark intended to be witty, wounding, or provoking: "he directs his shafts against her" Similar cutting remarkbarbgibetauntstinginformal:dig
   • 3. a long, narrow, typically vertical hole that gives access to a mine, accommodates a lift in a building, or provides ventilation. Similar mineshafttunnelpassagepitaditdowncastupcastboreholeboreductair shaftwelllight wellflueventrare:winze
   • 4. a man's penis. vulgar slang
   • ▪ harsh or unfair treatment: informal North American "the executives continue to raise their pay while the workers get the shaft"

   verb

   • 1. (of light) shine in beams: "brilliant sunshine shafted through the skylight"
   • 2. (of a man) have sex with. vulgar slang
   • ▪ treat (someone) harshly or unfairly: informal "I suppose she'll get a lawyer and I'll be shafted"

   Word Origin Old Englishscæft, sceaft ‘handle, pole’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schaft, German Schaft, and perhaps also to sceptre. Early senses of the verb (late Middle English) were ‘fit with a handle’ and ‘send out shafts of light’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. shafted adjective

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • S

     1

   • H

     4

   • A

     1

   • F

     4

   • T

     1

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