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coun·ter·shaft
Definition of countershaft
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
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