countershaft

American

[kaun-ter-shaft, -shahft] / ˈkaʊn tərˌʃæft, -ˌʃɑft /

noun

Machinery.

jackshaft.

countershaft British

/ ˈkaʊntəˌʃɑːft /

noun

an intermediate shaft that is driven by, but rotates in the opposite direction to, a main shaft, esp in a gear train

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

countershafting

noun

Etymology

Origin of countershaft

First recorded in 1860–65; counter- + shaft

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

countershaft

This shaft drives a countershaft that rotates, and, in turn, transmits rotation to the propshaft.

From Time Magazine Archive

The chain looks good and the countershaft sprocket looks pretty good.

From Time Magazine Archive

When changing rear sprockets, it's always a good idea to check the condition of your chain as well as the countershaft sprocket.

From Time Magazine Archive

The chain reaches its tightest point when there suspension is compressed so that there's a straight line between the rear axle, swingarm pivot, and countershaft sprocket.

From Time Magazine Archive

This, Mr. Lord accomplishes by the following mechanism: Instead of driving the lathe from an ordinary countershaft, he introduces a pair of cones which will vary the speed of the lathe as shown in Fig.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Joshua Rose

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023