Definition

1. Noun:

   • A long, slender, typically cylindrical object: A rod or pole, often serving as a handle, structural component, or the main body of a weapon like a spear or arrow.
   • A long, narrow, vertical or inclined passage: A deep, typically enclosed space, such as one sunk into the earth for a mine or running through a building for an elevator or ventilation.
   • A ray or beam of light: A column of bright light.
   • The main, central part of something: The long, narrow section of a long bone or the hollow spine of a feather.
   • A cleverly aimed, critical remark: A pointed, aggressive comment intended to hurt or criticize.
   • (Vulgar slang) The penis.

2. Verb:

   • To equip with a shaft: To fit something with a long rod or handle.
   • (Informal) To treat unfairly or deceive; to cheat: To defeat or betray someone through trickery.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The shaft of the arrow was made of fine wood.
  • Miners descended into the dark shaft.
  • A shaft of sunlight broke through the clouds.
  • He felt the insult was a direct shaft aimed at his integrity.

• Verb:

  • The tool was carefully shafted for a better grip.
  • He was shafted by his business partner and lost all his money.

Advanced Usage

• "to get the shaft" (idiom, informal): To be treated unfairly or cheated.

  • After all his hard work, he really got the shaft when promotions were handed out.

• "the shaft of light": A common collocation describing a beam.

  • The only illumination was a single shaft of light from a high window.

Variants and Related Words

• Shafting (n/gerund): The act of fitting with a shaft or (informally) the act of cheating someone.
• Shaftless (adj): Lacking a shaft.

Synonyms

• Noun (for rod): Rod, pole, handle, stem.
• Noun (for passage): Tunnel, duct, passageway, well.
• Noun (for beam): Ray, beam, streak.
• Noun (for remark): Barb, dig, gibe, insult.
• Verb (for cheat): Cheat, swindle, trick, defraud.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Shaft up (v, rare/technical): To erect or build a vertical structure.
  • They will shaft up the new elevator core next month.

Related Idioms

• "A shaft of wit/sarcasm": A clever, pointed, and often critical remark.
  • Her conversation was punctuated with shafts of brilliant wit.

Noun

1. the hollow spine of a feather
2. a revolving rod that transmits power or motion
3. a long vertical passage sunk into the earth, as for a mine or tunnel
4. (architecture) upright consisting of the vertical part of a column
5. a vertical passageway through a building (as for an elevator)
6. a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
7. obscene terms for penis
8. the main (mid) section of a long bone
9. a column of light (as from a beacon)
10. a long rod or pole (especially the handle of an implement or the body of a weapon like a spear or arrow)
11. 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
12. a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer

Verb

1. defeat someone through trickery or deceit
2. equip with a shaft