\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.