noun
1.
Synonyms: ray 1, beam, shoot
2.
a scornful, cutting, or pithily critical remark
the target of her latest shaft is the president himself
Synonyms: barb, dart
Related Word: cut, jab, thrust; potshot
3.
harsh or unfair treatment
he really got the shaft: he was fired without notice
Synonyms: ||screw, ||screwing
Related Word: short end
Idioms: ||a royal screwing, the dirty end of the stick, ||the royal shaft