shafting

American  

[shaf-ting, shahf-] / ˈʃæf tɪŋ, ˈʃɑf- /

noun

1. a number of shafts.

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

3. steel bar stock used for shafts.

4. Architecture. a system of shafts, as those around a pier or in the reveals of an archway.

5. Slang. an instance of unique or unfair treatment.

   The owners gave him a real shafting on the deal.

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shafting British  

/ ˈʃɑːftɪŋ /

noun

1. an assembly of rotating shafts for transmitting power

2. the stock from which shafts are made

3. architect a set of shafts

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Etymology

Origin of shafting

First recorded in 1815–25; shaft + -ing ¹