schaft

See also: -schaft, and Schaft

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑft

Verb

schaft

1. inflection of schaffen:
   1. second/third-person singular present indicative
   2. (archaic) plural imperative
2. inflection of schaften:
   1. first/second/third-person singular present indicative
   2. imperative

Middle English

Etymology 1

Inherited from Old English sċeaft (“shaft”), from Proto-West Germanic *skaft, from Proto-Germanic *skaftaz.

Alternative forms

• scæft, scaft, shaft, sschaft, scheft, sheft, shafft, schafft, chafte, saft, shaffet, schafte, shafte

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃaft/, /ʃɛft/

Noun

schaft (plural schaftes)

2. A weapon's shaft; the body of a polearm.
3. A spear or similar weapon based around its shaft.
4. A missile, projectile, or the shaft of one.
5. The handle or pole of a bladed tool or implement.
6. A flagstaff; a pole for a flag or banner.
7. The central support, pillar, or beam of a tree; the trunk.
8. (rare) A tunnel or passage (e.g. a mineshaft).
9. (rare) A kind of balance or scale.
10. (rare) The central pillar or beam of a candleholder.
11. (rare) A ray or pillar of light.

Derived terms

• spere schaft

Descendants

• English: shaft
• Scots: schaft, shaft

References

• “shaft(e, n.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-08-29.

Etymology 2

From Old English sċeaft, ġesċeaft (“creation”), from sċieppan; equivalent to shapen +‎ -th.

Alternative forms

• shafft, ssepþ, saft, sceaft, scheaft, shaft, chaft, ssefþ, schapþe, shapte, schafte

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃaft/, /ʃapθ/, /ʃapt/
• (Kent) IPA^(key): /ʃɛfθ/, /ʃɛpθ/

Noun

schaft (plural schaftes or (Early ME) schaften or (Early ME) schafte)

2. Something that has been created (by a deity)
3. A creature or animal (especially a certain species)
4. The form or appearance of something; how something looks.
5. A chemical building block or component; an element.
6. (rare) The totality of the universe (viewed as a divine creation).
7. (rare) One's primary sexual organs.

References

• “shaft(e, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-08-29.