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

See Examples For:

propeller shaft

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

Repairs were made to a propeller shaft, which took nine months to complete.

From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2024

This powers an electric motor supplied by MagniX of Everett that turns the propeller shaft.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 2, 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

The transmission then is: 1 turns 2, 2 turns 5, 5 turns 6, 6 turns the propeller shaft through the universal joint.

From How it Works Dealing in simple language with steam, electricity, light, heat, sound, hydraulics, optics, etc., and with their applications to apparatus in common use by Williams, Archibald