Crossword Genius

Beginning to spin handle for well (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

shaft

'well' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'beginning to spin handle' is the wordplay.
'beginning to' says to take the initial letters.
'handle' becomes 'haft' (haft is a kind of handle).
The initial letter of 'spin' is 's'.
's'+'haft'='SHAFT'

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for shaft that I've seen before include "Stem, handle; (light) ray" , "Spear handle; ray of sun" , "Vertical mine access" , "Body of an arrow" , "Beam of light" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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