countershaft

English

Etymology

From counter- +‎ shaft.

Noun

countershaft (plural countershafts)

1. Synonym of jackshaft (“mechanical component for rotational force”)
   • 1952 December, John C. Gillham, “Rack Railways at Königswinter”, in Railway Magazine, page 843:

     Instead of the pistons driving through the connecting-rods directly on to the wheels that carry the weight of the engine, the Drachenfels piston and connecting-rod drove on to a countershaft which carried two small cog wheels. The latter engaged with two larger gears, between which, and on the same shaft, was the pinion to engage with the rack rail.

Alternative forms

• counter shaft

Verb

countershaft (third-person singular simple present countershafts, present participle countershafting, simple past and past participle countershafted)

1. Synonym of jackshaft