English
layshaft
From lay + shaft.
Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- ‘to lie’
…
Proto-Germanic *lagjaną ‘to lay’
Proto-West Germanic *laggjan ‘to lay’
Old English leċġan ‘to lay’
Middle English leyen ‘to lay’
English lay
Proto-Indo-European *skeh₂p- ‘club, rod, shaft, staff’
Proto-Germanic *skaftaz
Proto-West Germanic *skaft
Old English sċeaft ‘shaft, pole’
Middle English chafte
English shaft
Today it means
noun A subsidiary transmission shaft.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / layshaft