camshaft

American  

[kam-shaft, -shahft] / ˈkæmˌʃæft, -ˌʃɑft /

noun

1. Machinery. a shaft bearing integral cams.

---

camshaft British  

/ ˈkæmˌʃɑːft /

noun

1. a shaft having one or more cams attached to it, esp one used to operate the valves of an internal-combustion engine

---

Etymology

Origin of camshaft

First recorded in 1875–80; cam ¹ ( def. ) + shaft

Example Sentences

Another probe covers 289,000 Dodge Journey and Jeep Compass and Patriot small SUVs from 2016 due to 127 complaints about engine stalling due to crankshaft or camshaft sensor problems.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 26, 2022

The opening and closing of the valves that let air into the cylinder and exhaust gases out used to be regulated by a mechanical device operated by the engine’s camshaft.

From Economist • Dec. 10, 2015

Just months later, Arkus-Duntov broke the 150 m.p.h. mark in a Corvette on the sands of Daytona Beach, using a camshaft design he had developed for his Ardun V-8 conversions.

From New York Times • Jun. 22, 2012

It is all done with the use of electro-hydraulic controls of the inlet valves, in place of a camshaft.

From BBC • May 20, 2012

Wierzbicki reams a bearing and Stephanides grinds a bearing and O’Malley attaches a bearing to a camshaft.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides