Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SHAFT, n.¹, v.¹ Also sheft (Fif.). Sc. form and usages:

I. n. A kind of woollen cloth, prob. a back-formation from ppl.adjs. three-, four-shafted, as applied to various weaves of cloth, sc. woven by so many shafts or heddle-bars.Abd. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XIX. 208:
Cloths manufactured from the above wool, seys, sarges, shafts, plaidings . . .

II. v. As in Eng., to provide with a shaft or handle, used jocularly in comb. shaftit vest, -waistcoat, a sleeved waistcoat (Bnff., Abd. 1970).