shaft
UK: ʃɑːft | US: ʃæft
n. a long, narrow part or section forming the handle of a tool or club, the body of a spear or arrow, etc.
n. a beam or ray of light
n. a vertical passage or opening, as in a mine or elevator
vt. to cheat or deceive someone (slang)
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The word "shaft" traces back to Old English sceaft, meaning "pole, spear, or beam," derived from Proto-Germanic skaftaz. Its core idea revolves around a long, slender object, whether as a weapon (spear), tool (handle), or structural element (beam). Over time, it expanded metaphorically to include rays of light ("shaft of sunlight") and vertical passages (e.g., mine shafts). The slang sense "to cheat" (20th century) likely stems from the idea of being "stabbed" metaphorically.
The arrow’s wooden shaft snapped upon impact.
A bright shaft of sunlight pierced through the clouds.
Miners descended into the dark shaft to extract coal.
He felt shafted after realizing the deal was unfair.
The mechanic replaced the broken drive shaft in the car.