Word Meanings - SHAFT - Book Publishers vocabulary database

A rod at the end of a heddle. 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

Additional info about word: SHAFT

A rod at the end of a heddle. 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. (more info) OHG. scaft, G. schaft, Dan. & Sw. skaft handle, haft, Icel. skapt, 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 , the feathers, and the head. Ascham. 2. The long handle of a spear or similar weapon; hence, the weapon itself; 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: The trunk, stem, or stalk of a plant. The stem or midrib of a feather. See Illust. of Feather. The pole, or tongue, of a vehicle; also, a thill. 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. The handle or helve of certain tools, instruments, etc., as a hammer, a whip, etc. A pole, especially a Maypole. Stow. The body of a column; the cylindrical pillar between the capital and base . Also, the part of a chimney above the roof. Also, the spire of a steeple. Gwilt. A column, an obelisk, or other spire-shaped or columnar monument. Bid time and nature gently spare The shaft we raise to thee. Emerson.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of SHAFT)

• Pillar
• Column
• shaft
• post
• support
• Trunk
• Stem
• stock
• body

Possible antonyms: (opposite words of SHAFT)

• Drop
• betray
• surrender
• abandon
• discontinue
• oppose
• discourage
• weaken
• exhaust
• thwart
• discountenance
• disfavor
• subvert
• suppress

Related words: (words related to SHAFT)

• TRUNKED
  Having a trunk. Thickset with strong and well-trunked trees. Howell.
• SUPPORTABLE
  Capable of being supported, maintained, or endured; endurable. -- Sup*port"a*ble*ness, n. -- Sup*port"a*bly, adv.
• STOCKER
  One who makes or fits stocks, as of guns or gun carriages, etc.
• SUPPORTATION
  Maintenance; support. Chaucer. Bacon.
• SHAFTING
  Shafts, collectivelly; a system of connected shafts for communicating motion.
• STOCKWORK
  A system of working in ore, etc., when it lies not in strata or veins, but in solid masses, so as to be worked in chambers or stories.
• SUPPRESSOR
  One who suppresses.
• PILLARED
  Supported or ornamented by pillars; resembling a pillar, or pillars. "The pillared arches." Sir W. Scott. "Pillared flame." Thomson.
• TRUNKFUL
  As much as a trunk will hold; enough to fill a trunk.
• DISCONTINUE
  To interrupt the continuance of; to intermit, as a practice or habit; to put an end to; to cause to cease; to cease using, to stop; to leave off. Set up their conventicles again, which had been discontinued. Bp. Burnet. I have discontinued school
• STOCK-BLIND
  Blind as a stock; wholly blind.
• TRUNK PISTON
  In a single-acting engine, an elongated hollow piston, open at the end, in which the end of the connecting rod is pivoted. The piston rod, crosshead and stuffing box are thus dispensed with.
• COLUMN
  A kind of pillar; a cylindrical or polygonal support for a roof, ceiling, statue, etc., somewhat ornamented, and usually composed of base, shaft, and capital. See Order. 2. Anything resembling, in form or position, a column an architecture;
• SUPPORTFUL
  Abounding with support. Chapman.
• EXHAUSTION
  An ancient geometrical method in which an exhaustive process was employed. It was nearly equivalent to the modern method of limits. Note: The method of exhaustions was applied to great variety of propositions, pertaining to rectifications
• SUPPORTLESS
  Having no support. Milton.
• OPPOSELESS
  Not to be effectually opposed; irresistible. "Your great opposeless wills." Shak.
• DISCOURAGEMENT
  1. The act of discouraging, or the state of being discouraged; depression or weakening of confidence; dejection. 2. That which discourages; that which deters, or tends to deter, from an undertaking, or from the prosecution of anything; a determent;
• BETRAYAL
  The act or the result of betraying.
• COLUMNARITY
  The state or quality of being columnar.
• PAPILLARY
  Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a papilla or papillæ; bearing, or covered with, papillæ; papillose.
• WAY SHAFT
  A rock shaft.
• ELECTRO-CAPILLARITY
  The occurrence or production of certain capillary effects by the action of an electrical current or charge.
• SEMICOLUMNAR
  Like a semicolumn; flat on one side and round on the other; imperfectly columnar.
• OVERTHWARTLY
  In an overthwart manner;across; also, perversely. Peacham.
• BEETLESTOCK
  The handle of a beetle.
• BLUESTOCKINGISM
  The character or manner of a bluestocking; female pedantry.