shaft

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
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.

  ■ an arrow or spear.

  ■ a column, especially the 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.

• 2 a ray of light or bolt of lightning.

• 3 a sudden flash of a quality or feeling.

  ■ a witty, wounding, or provoking remark.

• 4 a long, narrow, typically vertical hole giving access to a mine, accommodating a lift, etc.

• 5 vulgar slang a man's penis.

• 6 (the shaft) N. Amer. informal harsh or unfair treatment.

▶verb

• 1 (of light) shine in beams.

• 2 vulgar slang (of a man) have sex with.

• 3 informal treat harshly or unfairly.

– derivatives
shafted adjective.

– origin OE scæft, sceaft ‘handle, pole’, of Gmc origin; perh. rel. to sceptre.