Shaft

shaft, n. anything long and straight, as the stem of an arrow, .: a long arrow, anything like an arrow in form or effect: the part of a column between the base and capital: the stem of a feather: the pole or thill of a carriage: the handle of a tool of any kind.— adj. Shaft′ed , having a shaft or handle.— ns. Shaft′-horse , the horse that is harne ed between the shafts of a carriage; Shaft′ing ( mach. ), the system of shafts connecting machinery with the prime mover.— Make a shaft or a bolt of it ( Shak. ), to take the risk and make the best of it—the shaft and the bolt being the arrows of the long-bow and the cro -bow respectively. [A.S. sceaft ; prob. orig. pa.p. of scafan , to shave.]