16. shaft Slang. to treat in a harsh or treacherous manner.
Etymology: (bef. 1000; ME; OE sceaft, c. OFris
Definition of 'Shaft'
Princeton's WordNet
1. (noun)shaft a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
2. (noun)shot, shaft, slam, dig, barb, jibe, gibe an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect "his parting shot was `drop dead'"; "she threw shafts of sarcasm"; "she takes a dig at me every chance she gets"
3. (noun)shaft a long rod or pole (especially the handle of an implement or the body of a weapon like a spear or arrow)
4. (noun)beam, beam of light, light beam, ray, ray of light, shaft, shaft of light, irradiation a column of light (as from a beacon)
5. (noun)diaphysis, shaft the main (mid) section of a long bone
1. (noun)Shaft the slender, smoothstem of an arrow; hence, an arrow
2. (noun)Shaft the long handle of a spear or similar weapon; hence, the weapon itself; (Fig.) anything regarded as a shaft to be thrown or darted; as, shafts of light
3. (noun)Shaft that which resembles in some degree the stem or handle of an arrow or a spear; a long, slender part, especially when cylindrical
4. (noun)Shaft the trunk, stem, or stalk of a plant
11. (noun)Shaft a column, an obelisk, or other spire-shaped or columnar monument
12. (noun)Shaft a rod at the end of a heddle
13. (noun)Shaft a solid or hollowcylinder or bar, having one or more journals on which it rests and revolves, and intended to carry one or more wheels or other revolving parts and to transmit power or motion; as, the shaft of a steamengine
14. (noun)Shaft a hummingbird (Thaumastura cora) having two of the tail feathers next to the middle ones very long in the male; -- called also corahummingbird