shafting

[ shaf-ting, shahf- ]

See synonyms for shafting on Thesaurus.com

noun

a number of shafts.
Machinery. a system of shafts, as the overhead shafts formerly used for driving the machinery of a mill.

steel bar stock used for shafts.
Architecture. a system of shafts, as those around a pier or in the reveals of an archway.
Slang. an instance of unique or unfair treatment: The owners gave him a real shafting on the deal.

Origin of shafting

First recorded in 1815–25; shaft + -ing¹

Words Nearby shafting

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use shafting in a sentence

The government has been shafting veterans since the Civil War and the modern VA does well at upholding that tradition.
The Military Teaches Soldiers Strength; the VA Teaches Veterans to Beg | Chris Miller | August 30, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
On the following day Sigurd went to her apartment, and Alsvid stood outside the door shafting arrows.
The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson | Saemund Sigfusson and Snorre Sturleson
Between these hulls were placed the paddle-wheels, working upon the shafting propelled by horses.
A History of the City of Brooklyn and Kings County Volume II | Stephen M. Ostrander
Long sheds are erected and shafting extends down both sides of the shearing place.
Textiles | William H. Dooley
Twenty or more shearers will be lined up in one of these sheds, each man operating a clipping machine connected with the shafting.
Textiles | William H. Dooley

The entire shafting in the shops must be kept in operation the entire year, often for less than 50 per cent.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 664, September 22,1888 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for shafting

shafting

/ (ˈʃɑːftɪŋ) /

noun

an assembly of rotating shafts for transmitting power
the stock from which shafts are made

architect a set of shafts

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

Browse