countershaft

noun

coun·​ter·​shaft

1

: a mechanism used to transmit motion and power from a main driving shaft to an individual machine, typically mounted by hangers on a ceiling, and driven by one belt from the main shaft and in turn driving the machine by another belt

2

: a short shaft in a machine (as an automobile) carrying intermediate gears to transmit motion usually with change of speed or direction or both from one set of gears to another

countershafting noun

Word History

Etymology

counter- + shaft

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