An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schaft

by Friedrich Kluge

Schaft (1.), m., ‘shaft, handle, trunk, stalk,’ from MidHG. schaft, OHG. scaft, m., ‘shaft, spear, lance’; comp. OSax. skaft, m., ‘spear,’ Du. schacht, m., ‘quill, shaft of a lance,’ AS. sčęaft, E. shaft, OIc. skapt, n., ‘pole, spear’; Goth. *skafta- is by chance not recorded. These substant. cognates can scarcely be related to schaffen, they are connected rather with schaben (lit. ‘that which has been scraped or made smooth’?). It is most closely allied to Gr. σκῆπτρον, ‘staff,’ akin to Dor. (Pindar) σκᾶπτον, σκήπων, ‘staff’; further Lat. scâpus, ‘shaft’; hence OAryan skā̆p-, ‘shaft.’

Schaft (2.), m., ‘shelves, bookcase, ModHG. only; from MidHG. schaf, ‘vessel for containing liquids’?. For the latter see Scheffel.