propeller shaft

American  

noun

1. a shaft that transmits power from an engine to a propeller.

2. a drive shaft.

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propeller shaft British  

noun

1. the shaft that transmits power from the gearbox to the differential gear in a motor vehicle or from the engine to the propeller in a ship or aircraft

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Etymology

Origin of propeller shaft

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

In 1980, the Warrior was seized by the Spanish navy, who removed a thrust bearing from the propeller shaft and held the ship for $142,000 bail.

From Slate • Jul. 22, 2025

The area near the propeller shaft was badly punched in, he said.

From Washington Post • Mar. 20, 2023

On Feb. 12, 1942, British bombs struck the propeller shaft and boiler room of the John Mahn, a 157-foot trawler adapted for war by Germany.

From New York Times • Oct. 22, 2022

It suffered a problem with a propeller shaft shortly after setting sail from Portsmouth Naval Base on Saturday.

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2022

From the outer end of the propeller shaft in front to the extreme rear edge of the vertical rudder, the machine is 25 feet deep.

From Flying Machines: construction and operation; a practical book which shows, in illustrations, working plans and text, how to build and navigate the modern airship by Chanute, Octave