SHAFT
What does "SHAFT" mean?
A long narrow body or handle, such as the pole of an arrow, a vertical passage, or a beam of light.
Meanings
- The long straight handle or stem of a tool, spear, arrow, or golf club. The arrow's shaft snapped clean against the shield.
- A vertical or inclined passage sunk into the ground, as in a mine or for an elevator. Miners descended the shaft in a rattling iron cage.
- A rotating rod that transmits power or motion in a machine. A worn drive shaft made the whole truck shudder. technical
- A ray or beam, especially of light. A shaft of morning sun cut across the dusty floor.
- To treat someone unfairly or cheat them. He felt shafted when the bonus went to everyone but him. informal
Word origin
From Old English 'sceaft', meaning the pole of a spear or arrow, from a Germanic root related to 'shave' (a shaped, smoothed stick); the senses of mine-shaft and light-ray are later extensions.
Remember it
SHAFT = SH + AFT: it points 'aft', straight as an arrow's tail.
A little poem
A single shaft of sun finds the well-
down the dark throat of stone it falls
and lands, gold, on water no one drinks.
tercet
What it teaches
One straight line can carry an arrow, a load, or the light - the shape matters more than the use.
Quick facts
What does SHAFT mean?
A long narrow body or handle, such as the pole of an arrow, a vertical passage, or a beam of light.
Is SHAFT a valid word?
Yes — SHAFT is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is SHAFT?
SHAFT has 5 letters and 1 syllable.
Where does SHAFT come from?
From Old English 'sceaft', meaning the pole of a spear or arrow, from a Germanic root related to 'shave' (a shaped, smoothed stick); the senses of mine-shaft and light-ray are later extensions.
What can SHAFT teach us?
One straight line can carry an arrow, a load, or the light - the shape matters more than the use.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.