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shaft |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Shaft \Shaft\, n. [OE. shaft, schaft, AS sceaft akin to D. schacht OHG. scaft, G. schaft, Dan. & Sw skaft handle, haft, Icel. skapt, and probably to L. scapus, Gr ????, ????, a staff. Probably originally, a shaven or smoothed rod. Cf {Scape}, {Scepter}, {Shave}.] 1. The slender, smooth stem of an arrow; hence an arrow. His sleep, his meat, his drink, is him bereft, That lean he wax, and dry as is a shaft. --Chaucer. A shaft hath three principal parts the stele [stale], the feathers, and the head. --Ascham. 2. The long handle of a spear or similar weapon; hence the weapon itself (Fig.) anything regarded as a shaft to be thrown or darted; as shafts of light. And the thunder, Winged with red lightning and impetuous rage, Perhaps hath spent his shafts. --Milton. Some kinds of literary pursuits . . . have been attacked with all the shafts of ridicule. --V. Knox. 3. That which resembles in some degree the stem or handle of an arrow or a spear; a long, slender part especially when cylindrical. Specifically: a (Bot.) The trunk, stem, or stalk of a plant. b (Zo["o]l.) The stem or midrib of a feather. See Illust. of {Feather}. c The pole, or tongue, of a vehicle; also a thill. d The part of a candlestick which supports its branches. Thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold . . . his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same --Ex. xxv. 31. e The handle or helve of certain tools, instruments, etc., as a hammer, a whip, etc f A pole, especially a Maypole. [Obs.] --Stow. g (Arch.) The body of a column; the cylindrical pillar between the capital and base (see Illust. of {Column}). Also the part of a chimney above the roof. Also the spire of a steeple. [Obs. or R.] --Gwilt. h A column, an obelisk, or other spire-shaped or columnar monument. Bid time and nature gently spare The shaft we raise to thee. --Emerson. i (Weaving) A rod at the end of a heddle. j (Mach.) A solid or hollow cylinder or bar, having one or more journals on which it rests and revolves, and intended to carry one or more wheels or other revolving parts and to transmit power or motion; as the shaft of a steam engine. See Illust. of {Countershaft}. 4. (Zo["o]l.) A humming bird ({Thaumastura cora}) having two of the tail feathers next to the middle ones very long in the male; -- called also {cora humming bird}. 5. [Cf. G. schacht.] (Mining) A well-like excavation in the earth, perpendicular or nearly so made for reaching and raising ore, for raising water, etc 6. A long passage for the admission or outlet of air; an air shaft. 7. The chamber of a blast furnace. {Line shaft} (Mach.), a main shaft of considerable length, in a shop or factory, usually bearing a number of pulleys by which machines are driven, commonly by means of countershafts; -- called also {line}, or {main line}. {Shaft alley} (Naut.), a passage extending from the engine room to the stern, and containing the propeller shaft. {Shaft furnace} (Metal.), a furnace, in the form of a chimney, which is charged at the top and tapped at the bottom. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Band \Band\ (b[a^]nd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Banded}; p. pr & vb n. {Banding}.] 1. To bind or tie with a band. 2. To mark with a band. 3. To unite in a troop, company, or confederacy. ``Banded against his throne.'' --Milton. {Banded architrave}, {pier}, {shaft}, etc (Arch.), an architrave, pier, etc., of which the regular profile is interrupted by blocks or projections crossing it at right angles. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: shaft n 1: a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer 2: an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect; "his parting shot was `drop dead'"; "she threw shafts of sarcasm"; "she takes a dig at me every chance she gets" [syn: {shot}, {slam}, {dig}, {barb}, {jibe}, {gibe}] 3: a long rod or pole (especially the handle of an implement or the body of a weapon like a spear or arrow) 4: a column of light (as from a beacon) [syn: {beam}, {beam of light}, {light beam}, {ray}, {ray of light}, {shaft of light}] 5: the main (mid) section of a long bone [syn: {diaphysis}] 6: obscene terms for penis [syn: {cock}, {prick}, {dick}, {pecker}, {peter}, {tool}] 7: a long pointed rod used as a weapon [syn: {spear}, {lance}] 8: a vertical passageway through a building (as for an elevator) 9: the vertical part of a column 10: a vertical passage into a mine 11: a revolving rod that transmits power or motion [syn: {rotating shaft}] 12: the hollow shaft of a feather [syn: {quill}, {calamus}] v : defeat someone in an expectation through trickery or deceit [syn: {cheat}, {chouse}, {screw}, {chicane}, {jockey}]
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