noun A word whose meaning changes depending on the situation, as by deixis.
noun Someone who plays tricks; a trickster.
noun An assistant to the ship's cook in washing, soaking, and shifting the salt provisions.
noun A control device (usually a lever or button) for shifting gears in a gearbox, or an arrangement for shifting a belt sidewise from one pulley to another.
noun A wire for changing a loop from one needle to another, as in narrowing, etc.
noun A component used by the rider to control the gearing mechanisms and select the desired gear ratio, usually connected to the derailleur by a mechanical actuation cable.