- a long pole forming the body of various weapons, as lances, halberds, or arrows.
- something directed or barbed as in sharp attack: shafts of sarcasm.
- a ray or beam: a shaft of sunlight.
- a long, comparatively straight handle serving as an important or balancing part of an implement or device, as of a hammer, ax, golf club, or other implement.
- a rotating or oscillating round, straight bar for transmitting motion and torque, usually supported on bearings and carrying gears, wheels, or the like, as a propeller shaft on a ship, or a drive shaft of an engine.
- a flagpole.
- Architecture.
- that part of a column or pier between the base and capital.
- any distinct, slender, vertical masonry feature engaged in a wall or pier and usually supporting or feigning to support an arch or vault.
- a monument in the form of a column, obelisk, or the like.
- either of the parallel bars of wood between which the animal drawing a vehicle is hitched.
- any well-like passage or vertical enclosed space, as in a building: an elevator shaft.
- a vertical or sloping passageway leading to the surface.
- the trunk of a tree.
- the main stem or midrib of a feather.
- the harness or warp with reference to the pattern of interlacing threads in weave constructions (usually used in combination): an eight-shaft satin.
- the part of a candelabrum that supports the branches.
- the penis.
- harsh, unfair, or treacherous treatment: I feel like he’s giving me the shaft.
- to push or propel with a pole: to shaft a boat through a tunnel.
- to treat in a harsh, unfair, or treacherous manner.
- the long narrow pole that forms the body of a spear, arrow, etc
- something directed at a person in the manner of a missile
- a ray, beam, or streak, esp of light
- a rod or pole forming the handle of a hammer, axe, golf club, etc
- a revolving rod that transmits motion or power: usually used of axial rotation
- one of the two wooden poles by which an animal is harnessed to a vehicle
- anatomy
- the middle part (diaphysis) of a long bone
- the main portion of any elongated structure or part
- the middle part of a column or pier, between the base and the capital
- a column, obelisk, etc, esp one that forms a monument
- a column that supports a vaulting rib, sometimes one of a set
- a vertical passageway through a building, as for a lift
- a vertical passageway into a mine
- the central rib of a feather
- an archaic or literary word for arrow
- to be tricked or cheated
- to have sexual intercourse with (a woman)
- to trick or cheat
