Pl. staves, staffs. Forms: 1 stæb, (stab-, steb-), 1–2 stef, 1–4 stæf, 1–6 staf, 3 oblique stæve, steave, 3–4 oblique stave, 4–7 stafe, 4–8, (9 arch.) staffe, 5–6 Sc. staif, 6 stayffe, Sc. stalf, (stafte), 4–7 genit. sing. staves, 3– staff; pl. 1 stafas, 2 stafen, 2–5 stafes, 3 staven, Ormin stafess, 4 stafs, steves, (stavenes), 4–5 stafis, stawis, 4–6 stavis, -ys, 5–6 staffes, 6 stavez, Sc. staiffis, sta(l)ffis, 3–9 staves, 8– staffs. [Com. Teut.: OE. stæf masc. corresponds to OFris. stef, OS. -staf (MLG., MDu., Du. staf), OHG., MHG. stap, genit. stabes (mod.G. stab). ON. staf-r (Sw. staf, Da. stav):—OTeut. *staƀo-z; a variant type *staƀi- appears in Goth. *staf-s (in dat. pl. stabim) rendering στοιχεῖον element; a third type, possibly ancient, is represented by early mod.Du. stave, now staaf fem., bar. Other probable derivatives from the Teut. *staƀ- (? to be firm or fixed) are Da. stabbe (Icel. stabbi) STAB sb.1; ON. stef neut. (:—*staƀjon-) set of recurring time, refrain, stefja (:—*staƀjon-) to prevent, stefna fem. appointed time (:—*staƀnjōn-), STEVEN sb.; OHG. stabên (MHG. staben) to become stiff. The pre-Teut. type might be either *stapo- (? f. *stă- to stand, with suffix of causative import as in Sk. sthāpāyati makes to stand), or *stabho-.
The plural form staves is now somewhat archaic, exc. in certain senses in which a sing. form STAVE has been developed from it; but it is still preferred in those senses that are confined to literary use.]
I. 1. A stick carried in the hand as an aid in walking or climbing. Now chiefly literary (e.g., in reference to ‘pilgrims’).
c. 725. Corpus Gloss., 1441. Olastrum: stæb.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxvi. § 6. Ða cild ridað on hiora stafum. Ibid. (c. 897), Gregory’s Past. C., xvii. 126. Mid ʓierde mon bið beswungen, and mid stæfe he bið awreðed.
c. 1205. Lay., 30754. Þene staf he nom an honde and ferde ouer þan londe.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3149. Stondende, and staf on hond.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVII. 36. Þe gome þat goth with o staf, he semeth in gretter hele þan he þat goth with two staues to syȝte of vs alle.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, cxlvi. 545. Huon … aparelyd hymselfe lyke a pylgryme, with a stafe, and a bage abought his necke.
c. 1539. in Aungier, Syon (1840), 131. They bare small staves in their honds to lepe over the watery playshes.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. viii. 30. An old old man … That on a staffe his feeble steps did frame.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 20 July. He did present me with a varnished staffe, very fine and light to walk with.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), IV. 139. With their staffs in their hands.
1803. Jane Porter, Thaddeus, i. When we possessed no other property than the staffs which we hold in our hands.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xiv. 95. I … dug my staff deeply into the snow.
1857. J. G. Holland, Bay Path, vi. 77–8. Two or three pedestrians, bending beneath their packs, and swinging their sturdy staves.
1907. Verney Mem., I. 50. A curious pilgrim’s staff.
b. jocularly as a type of thinness or leanness.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 592. Ful longe were his legges and ful lene, Ylyk a staf, ther was no calf ysene.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. i. 71. If I were saw’de into Quantities, I should make foure dozen of such bearded Hermites staues, as Master Shallow.
† c. Applied to a crutch. Obs.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 432/2. He coude not goo ne stande wythoute he had two crutches or staues under hys armes.
† d. A stick or rod, esp. one with a hooked end, used for tending sheep; a shepherd’s crook. Obs.
For shepherd’s staff used as a plant-name, after L. virga pastoris, see SHEPHERD sb. 7 d.
c. 1475. Pict. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 814. Hoc pedum, a scheperdes stafe.
1530. Palsgr., 266/2. Schepherdes staffe, hovlette.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Agolum, a staffe to dryue cattell with.
1577. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. 141. They must be well ware in the driuing of them … that they guide them with theyr voyce, and shaking of theyr staffe.
e. A rod or wand used as an instrument of magic or divination.
1610. Shaks., Temp., V. 54. I’le breake my staffe.
1656. S. Holland, Don Zara, 67. Her Rod, Staff, and other implements of Sorcery stood by her on a Table of Abstersive Ebony.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch, Camillus (Rtldg.), 109/2. They discovered under a great heap of ashes, the augural staff of Romulus. This staff is crooked at one end, and called lituus.
1836. Thirlwall, Greece, xiv. II. 197. Diviners … who drew their knowledge of the future from the position of staves thrown on the ground.
f. By staff and baton: a formula of Scots Law, used when the vassal resigns his feu into the hands of his superior, (Cf. ROD sb.1 1 c.)
1499. Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 43/2. Resignit be his procuratouris in our soverane lordis handis … be staf and bastoun.
1596. in T. Morris, Provosts of Methven (1875), 86. Thair in my name … be staff and bastoun, as vse is, to resigne … in our said Souerane lordis handis … my mansioun.
1762. in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874), 92. To resign surrender overgive and deliver duely and lawfully by staff and baton as use is all and haill the foresaids parts and portions of his baronies.
2. A stick, pole or club used as a weapon. (Cf. QUARTERSTAFF.)
The constable’s staff (quot. 1583, etc.) is at once a weapon and a badge of office: see sense 7 and TIPSTAFF 1.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., ix. (Z.), 55. Fustis saʓol oððe stæf.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 1167. Her-uore hit is þat me þe shuneþ, & þe to-torueþ & to-buneþ Mid staue & stone & turf & clute.
c. 1290. St. Lawrence, 114, in S. Eng. Leg., 343. He het heom with grete staues leggen on him to grounde.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7528. His arms fra him did he suing, And tok bot a staf and a sling.
1340. Ayenb., 156. Þe sergons … nome steues and byete þane asse riȝt to þe uolle.
1382. Wyclif, Mark xiv. 48. As to a thef ȝe han gon out with swerdis and staues, for to take me.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1652. Yemen on foote and communes many oon With shorte staues.
1421. Cov. Leet Bk., 28. That no bocher … ber no billys, ne gysarnez, ne no grett stauys within the Cite … Saue leefull be hit to euery bocher and othur man … comyng to market to dryve hur beestis with smale stavys and non othur.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. ix. 47. Thenne the comyns of Carlyon aroos with clubbis and stauys and slewe many knyghtes.
1583. Nottingham Rec., IV. 201. xxx. Cunstable stavez at xvd. a pece.
1663. Killigrew, Parson’s Wedd., IV. i. Constables staff, and Lanthorn.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1123. I only with an Oak’n staff will meet thee.
1742. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., IV. 621. The Constables interposing with their Staves for some time kept off the Rioters.
1778. Learning at a Loss, I. 103. In his Hand [was] a very inimical Oak staff of at least two Inches diameter.
1821. Combe, Syntax, Wife, I. (1869), 267. But warrants, staves and mastiffs wait To guard the approaches to his gate.
1847. Mrs. A. Kerr, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Servia, 32. We find them armed only with long staves.
fig. 1541. Crome, in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), III. xi. 104. But, alack! this bold Beggar’s Staf hath this Beggar of Rome left here behind him. Which Staf beateth both the Bodies and Souls of Men.
1577. F. de Lisle’s Legendarie, G vij. She looked to finde in him a new staffe wherewith to suppresse the Guisians.
3. a. The shaft of a spear or lance. arch. † b. A spear, lance, or similar armed weapon. To break a staff, to tilt or contend with (an antagonist). Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 8155. Euelin … mid þan stæue to-draf, and smat Herigal a þon ribben þat þe staf to-bræc amidden.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 14806. Eyþer þorow pleyn bataille in feld, Or wyþ chaumpion staf & scheld.
c. 1400. Brut, ccxxiii. 276. He fonde in a chambre aboue v C of grete stafes [Caxton staues] of fyne oke, with longe pikes of yren and of stele.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 157. Ther was … many an arowe shotte and many a staffe and guysarme broken.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VIII. xi. 45. Twa javilling speris, or than gyssarn stavis.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 6. There wer broken many staues and great praise geuen to the twoo straungers.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. i. 120 Their armed Staues in charge, their Beauers downe.
1599, 1624. [see TAINT v. A. 5 b].
1600. Holland, Livy, VIII. vii. 285. Wilt thou then … break a staffe with me in the meane time.
1605. Shaks., Macb., V. iii. 48. Come, put mine Armour on: giue me my Staffe.
1611. Bible, 1 Sam. xvii. 7. The staffe of his speare was like a weauers beame.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Manche, Le manche d’un espieu, the staffe of a Bore-speare.
1868. Morris, Earthly Par., Man born to be King, 1226. Who bore armed staves and coats of fence.
† c. with defining word, indicating some kind of spear or javelin, as horseman’s, hunter’s, hunting, Jedburgh (Jedworth, Jedwood, etc.) staff. Obs.
1515–6. Exchequer Rolls Scot., XIV. 141. Halbertis, Leith axis, et Jedworth stauis [printed stanis].
1538. Elyot, Dict., Venabulum, a huntynge staffe.
a. 1547. Surrey, Æneid, IV. 167. The hunting staues with their brod heads of steele.
1560. Whitehorne, Ord. Souldiours, xl. 45. Howe to make certayn fyreworke to tye at the poinctes of pykes or horsemenstaues.
1561. in Maitland Club Misc., III. 278. And for ye sam caws of set purpos ye person had Jedwod staiffis in ye qweyr.
1567. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 578. Stryking and schuting of culveringis and Jedburgh staffis.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Pelopidas (1595), 309. Taking houndes with them, and hunters staues in their handes.
1611. Cotgr., Espieu, a Boare-speare; a hunting staffe, or Jauelin.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Hum. Lieut., I. 1. And on Our Horsemans Staves, Death lookes as grimly as on your keene-edgd Swords.
1680. Lyon Office Register of Arms (MS.), A kynde of Launce (called the Jedburgh staff).
1708. Motteux, Rabelais, V. ix. (1737), 35. Troutstaves,… and Hunting Staffs.
† d. Judas staff [cf. Mark xiv. 43] = JUDAS 2.
1488. in Archæologia, XLV. 119. Ther bith vi Judas Staves for torches peynted.
4. fig. Something that serves as a support or stay.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 145. Therof the Jelous takth non hiede, Bot as a man to love unkinde, He cast his staf, as doth the blinde, And fint defaulte where is non.
a. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, 213. And is she gon, the comfort of my youth, the staffe of my age.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Serm. (1637), 496. Take heed is a good staffe to stay upon.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. ii. 70. The boy was the verie staffe of my age, my verie prop. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., III. xiii. 68. It much would please him, That of his Fortunes you should make a staffe To leane vpon.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. xiv. 415. Having lost his own legs, he relyes on the staff of his kinred.
1721. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 256. They were the staff of the party.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 223. They had one son, who had grown up to be the staff and pride of their age.
1830. Scott, Introd. Last Minstrel, ¶ 13. I determined that literature should be my staff, but not my crutch.
1876. T. Hardy, Ethelberta, xiii. Long before he adopted music as the staff of his pilgrimage.
b. In the Biblical phr. to break the staff of bread (literally from Heb. maṭṭēh le·χem, Vulg. baculum panis), to diminish or cut off the supply of food.
1382, 1388. Wyclif, Lev. xxvi. 26.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Lev. xxvi. 26. Ps. cv. 16. Ezek. iv. 16 [And so 1611.]
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. CV. iv. Scarse had he spoken, When famine came, the staff of bread was broken.
1596. Barlow, Three Serm., i. 121. God in his lawe threatneth that he will breake the staffe of bread, that is, bread shall not nourish them that eate it.
c. Hence the staff of life = bread (or similar staple food).
1638. Penkethman, Artach., A j b. Bread is worth all, being the Staffe of life.
1656. J. Hammond, Leah & Rachel (1841), 9. Corn (the main staffe of life).
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 35. For Corn, they have Rice the Staff of the Land.
1860. All Year Round, No. 45. 440. Barley bannocks and oat cake long remained the staff of life in villages in Scotland.
1901. D. Sladen, In Sicily, I. 372. Broad beans form one of the staves of life in Sicily.
d. Staff and staple: the chief elements or ingredients.
1869. Buckle, Civiliz., II. 171. Events of this sort though neglected by ordinary historians are among the staff and staple of history.
6. In proverbs and proverbial phrases. † a. Various phrases of obvious meaning. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7322. Þat þai desire, þai sal it haue, To þair aun heued a staue.
1444. Lydg., in Pol. Poems (1859), II. 219. Whoo hath noon hors on a staff may ride.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, xv. 21. And sum saide it hadd be beter for her to holde her pees … and that she had bete her selff with her owne staffe.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 384. All thus enforsit he his fa And maid a stalwart staff to strik him selfe doune.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 21. The walkyng staffe hath caught warmth in your hand.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 519. These be all as good rensons as yt comon iest: The staffe standeth in the corner, therefore ye good man is not at home.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. i. 171. A Staffe is quickly found to beat a Dogge.
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., Wks. (Grosart), V. 27. I warrant you are made while you liue, you neede not care which waie your staffe falles.
1659. N. R., Prov., Eng. Fr., etc. 67. If you would know a knave give him a staff. Ibid., 74. Lean not to a broken staff.
1671. Foulis, Hist. Romish Treasons, 96. And though the Rule be but obscure, they are apt to take the staff by the wrong end, and apply it to their own pleasures and desires of Novelty.
† b. At (the) staves end or staff-end: at a distance, away from close quarters or familiarity, on unfriendly terms. Chiefly in phr. to keep or hold (a person) at staves end, to stand at staves end with (a person). (Cf. at arm’s end, ARM sb.1 2 b.) Obs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 18 (Fairf. MS.). His new lady holdeth him vp so narowe Vp by the bridil at the staves ende, That euery worde he dred hit as an arowe.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov., I. xi. (1867), 34. And now without them, I liue here at staues end.
1601. Dent, Pathw. Heaven, 175. So that wee both keepe Satan at the staues end, and also much sinne out of our soules.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., V. i. 291. He holds Belzebub at the staues end as well as a man in his case may do.
1640. Harsnet, God’s Summons Repentance, 218. Hee keepes them a-while at the staves end, and speakes harshly unto them.
1650. I. Ambrose, Ultima (1654), 193. Whosoever they are that stand at the staffes end, he desires them to lay aside their weapons and come in.
1657. S. Purchas, Pol. Flying-Ins., II. 322. Vaine and wicked thoughts … will presse … into the heart, but a good heart will not owne them,… but stands at staves end with them.
1680. Bunyan, Mr. Badman (1905), 66. Had I been his Father, I would have held him a little at staves-end, till I had had far better proof of his manners to be good.
a. 1780. Shirrefs, Poems (1790), 215. Fowks that ha’e power to mak’ an’ men’, Sud keep sic lads at the staff-en’.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xvi. I expect him here one of these days; but I will keep him at staff’s end, I promise you.
† c. To have, get, etc., the better (or worse) end of the staff: to come off best (or worst) in a contest, disputation, etc.; to have the advantage or the contrary. Obs. (Now STICK sb.)
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 306. As often as thei see theim selfes to have the wurse ende of the staffe in their cause.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov., II. iii. (1867), 48. Who had the wurs ende of the staffe (quoth I) now?
1616. in Cal. Colon. Papers, E. Ind., 465. If others will be so foolish to cut their beilies for love (or rather lust) after whores, the worst end of the state will be their own.
1626. Jackson, Creed, VIII. viii. 71. He having gotten (as wee say) the better end of the staffe, did wrest our wills at his pleasure.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), II. II. 20. He was sure to keep the better end of the staff still to himself.
1688. Bunyan, Christ as Advocate, 94. I am ashamed my self of mine own doings, and have given mine Enemy the best end of the Staff.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1754), II. ii. 12. Miss Byron, I have had the better end of the staff, I believe?
† d. To set down (the or one’s) staff: to take up a fixed or settled position; to abide stedfastly by an opinion, decision, etc.; similarly to fix the staff (obs.). To set up (or † in) one’s staff (of rest): to settle down in a place, take up one’s abode.
1584. Greene, Arbasto, Wks. (Grosart), III. 217. Setting downe the staf therefore on this secure periury thus it fell out.
a. 1610. Healey, Epictetus (1636), 61. But sette downe thy staffe at this, whateuer the end bee, it noway concerneth thee.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 175. Yet till she rests there, and sets downe her stafe upon the promise, shee shall haue no rest.
1667. O. Heywood, Heart-Treasure, xiv. 165. A sober solid wel-taught Christian hath fixt the Staffe, and you know where to finde him, and he knows where to finde his own Principles.
1828. [Carr], Craven Gloss., s.v., ‘To put down one’s staff in a place,’ to settle or take up his residence in it.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., III. i. 51. Haue at you with a prouerbe, Shall I set in my staffe.
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., Wks. (Grosart), V. 46. Here I was in good hope to set vp my staffe for some reasonable time.
1609. Bodley, Life (1647), 15. I concluded at the last to set up my Staffe at the Library doore in Oxford.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1792), III. 71. This gentleman who has done us the honour to set up his staff of rest in our house.
1765. H. Walpole, Lett. to Earl Strafford, 3 Sept. The Countesses of Carlisle and Berkeley … will set up their staves there [in Paris] for some time.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xix. Here, then, Mannering resolved, for some time at least, to set up the staff of his rest.
1840. Dickens, Sk. Yng. Couples, 75. Old Mrs. Chopper, when her daughter married,… set up her staff of rest with Mr. and Mrs. Merrywinkle.
1860. Trollope, Framley P., xlviii. They appeared in London and there set up their staff.
† e. (One’s) staff stan is next the door: it is (one’s) turn next. Obs.
1548. Hall, Chron., 3 Hen. VII. (1550), 13. The Prouerbe that sayth, when thy neighboures house is a fyer, thy staffe standeth nexte the dore.
1577–87. Harrison, England, II. ii. 152/2, in Holinshed. For when the lands of colleges be gone, it shall be hard to saie, whose staffe shall stand next the doore.
f. To argue from the staff to the corner: to shift a discussion to another issue. Obs.
1656. Bramhall, Replic., ii. § 9. 107. This is an argument from the Staffe to the Corner. I speak of a succession of holy Orders, and he of a succession of Opinions.
g. To have the staff in (one’s) own hand: see quot. 1828.
1828. [Carr], Craven Gloss., s.v., ‘To have the staff in one’s own hand,’ to keep possession of his property, and, of consequence, to retain authority and obedience. ‘To part with one’s staff,’ the very reverse of the former phrase.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xviii. And, of course, they know the staff is in their own hands.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., s.v., To keep the staff in your own hand.
6. (Cf. sense 1 c.) Part of the insignia of the episcopal office, consisting of a rod or pole of wood, metal or ivory supporting a crook, or, in the case of metropolitans, a cross. See CROSE, CROSIER, CROSS-STAFF 1, and cf. PASTORAL a. 3.
The staff represents the possession of jurisdiction and was one of the insignia connected with INVESTITURE.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1047. Vlf biscop com þær to, & for neah man sceolde tobrecan his stef. Ibid., an. 1102. Maniʓe Frencisce & Englisce þær heora stafas & rice for luron.
c. 1205. Lay., 22105. Þene ærchebiscopes staf þer he Piram aȝaf.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 56. Prelats, wiþ þer stafis & oþer ornaments.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 424. How the Bischopis Stalf tuke Neidfyre.
1535. Bp. Hilsey, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. II. 352. Yff hytt may plese your Mastershypp to be soe good unto me as to geve my predecessours Myttre, Staff, and Seale.
1643. Baker, Chron., Hen. I., 55. That the King should receive homage of Bishops elect; but should not invest them by Staffe and Ring.
1851. Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., I. 1006. With his pastoral ring and staff.
7. A rod or wand, of wood or ivory, borne as an ensign of office or authority; spec. as the badge of certain chief officers of the Crown.
Cf. leading-staff s.v. LEADING vbl. sb.1 6.
1535. Coverdale, Ezek. xix. 11. Hir stalkes were so stronge, that men might haue made staues therof for officers.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. ii. 59. The Earle of Worcester Hath broke his staffe, resign’d his Stewardship.
1605. 1st Pt. Jeronimo, I. i. 8. For honering me … With this high staffe of office.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Prerog. Parl., 32. In his fifth yeare was the Treasurer againe changed, and the Staffe giuen to Segraue, and the Lord Chancellour was also changed, and the staffe giuen to the Lord Scroope.
1640. in 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., 80/2. Mr. Treasurer would not accept of the secretary’s place until he was assured of holding his white staff also.
1642. G. Mountagu in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 299. These Lords, Holland and Essex,… accordingly delivered their key and staff respectively to the Lord Falkland.
1711. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 31 May. I was bit about the two staves, for there is no new officer made to-day.
1716. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), V. 283. By this Resignation of the … place … of Beadle … I kept Possession of the Library, laying down the Staff before I went out.
1813. Geo. [IV.], in Gurw., Wellington Desp. (1838), X. 552. You have sent me … the Staff of a French Marshal, and I send you in return that of England.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), I. iv. 204. He kept the white staff of treasurer down to his death.
1843. Pugin, Apol. Rev. Chr. Archit., 51 b. On the left side of the altar—… A verge or cantor’s staff.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., III. vii. 694. Lord Godolphin, the Earl of Oxford, and the Duke of Shrewsbury successively received the Treasurer’s staff.
8. A pole from which a flag is flown.
a. 1613. [see FLAG-STAFF].
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 535. Who forthwith from the glittering Staff unfurld Th’ Imperial Ensign.
1702. [see JACK sb.3].
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Staff, a light pole erected in different parts of a ship, whereon to hoist and display the colours.
1774. M. Mackenzie, Maritime Surv., 39. Setting perpendicular in a level Ground three Poles, or Staves, between four and five Feet high, with Flags flying at each, so as to form a Triangle.
1816. Byron, Siege Cor., xi. The banners droop’d along their staves.
1836. W. Irving, Astoria, III. 228. They would willingly have nailed their colours to the staff, and defied the frigate.
1894. pl. staves [see JACK sb.3].
b. A rod or pole on which a processional cross was borne.
1431. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 27. ij staues [printed stanes] for þe principall crosses.
a. 1529. Skelton, Ware the Hauke, 114. Cros, staffe, lectryne, and banner.
† 9. A strong stick, pole, bar, rod or stake used for various purposes; e.g., for carrying burdens, to support a canopy, the stems of plants, etc. Obs.
c. 1000. Lamb. Psalter cvi. 16. Vectes ferreos confregit, stafas vel sahlas isenne tobræc.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2677. Ac some þat ofscapede … mid staues of hegges defended hom aboute.
1382. Wyclif, Exod. xxv. 13. And thow shalt make berynge staues of the trees of Sychym.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 294. Doun goth the corde into the pet, To which he hath at ende knet A staf, wherby, he seide, he wolde That Adrian him scholde holde.
1485. in Rutland Papers (Camden), 5. A seele of cloth of gold baudekyn with iiij staves gilte, to be borne alweis by iiij noble knights.
1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb., § 21. Than muste ye haue a wedynge-hoke with a socket set vpon a lyttel staffe of a yarde longe.
1530. Palsgr., 275/1. Staffe to beare two peyles on, as they do in Fraunce, une covrge.
1538. Elyot, Dict. Phalangæ, staues, whereon men doo carye packes, playne staues.
1552. in Daniel-Tyssen, Invent. Ch. Goods Surrey (1869), 14. Item a canype with iiij staves.
1572. Mascall, Plant. & Graff. (1592), 13. How to set small staues by, to strengthen your Cions.
1643. Baker, Chron., Rich. II., 1. To beare the Kings Canopy, upon foure staves of silver, over the Kings head.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 320/1. A Bearing Staff by which empty Barrels are carried by Servants from place to place.
1708. Constit. Watermen’s Co., xxv. No Waterman … shall stick up and lay his Boat at his Staff, so as to hinder … due and orderly passing … but shall … stick up their said Staves clear of the said Stairs or Landing-places.
† b. A CHURN-STAFF; also = pump-staff (see PUMP sb.1 6). Obs.
1559. in Richmond Wills (Surtees), 134. A chirn with a staf.
1593. [see SHOE sb. 5 b].
1609. Balliol Coll. Acc. (MS.), Item, staffe for mendinge the quadrangle pumpe.
† c. = PLOUGH-STAFF. Obs.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Rulla, the staffe, wherwith the ploughman clenseth his culter.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Rallum, the staffe wherewith plough men in tillyng, put the earth from their share.
1577. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. 21. With the Rodde or Staffe well poynted, the plowman maketh cleane his Coulter.
† d. = BOWSTAFF. Obs.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph., II. (Arb.), 116. The boole of ye tree is … best for a bow, yf the staues be euen clouen.
1583. Rates Custom Ho., A vj. Bowestaues the bundel containing xvi staues v s.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 105/2. A Staff, the first cleeving out of the Timber, to make the Shaft.
1868. Kirk, Chas. Bold, III. IV. viii. 136. And ‘bowiers’ [were ordered] to make their staves into bows with all possible haste.
e. ? Each of two sticks fastened to the extremities of a fishing-net.
1823. J. F. Cooper, Pioneers, xxiii. Benjamin prided himself greatly on his skill in throwing the net…. A loud splash in the water, as he threw away the ‘staff,’ or ‘stretcher.’ Ibid. ‘I see the “staffs,”’ shouted Mr. Jones;—‘gather in, boys, and away with it.’… Elizabeth strained her eyes and saw the ends of the two sticks on the seine.
10. Surveying. A rod for measuring distances and heights. Cf. JACOB’S STAFF 2 b; also levelling staff s.v. LEVELLING vbl. sb. 4.
[1538. Elyot, Dict., Pertica, a staffe, a cogell, a perche or polle, wherwith grounde is mette.]
1556. Digges, Tecton. (1592), title-p., An Instrument called the profitable Staffe. Ibid. (1571), Pantom., I. xiv. D iv b. Heightes are ingeniously searched out by a staffe.
1590. Blagrave (title), Baculum Familliare, Catholicon siue Generale. A Booke of the making and vse of a Staffe, newly invented by the Author, called the Familiar Staffe. As well for that it may be made vsually and familiarlie to walke with, as for that it performeth the Geometrical mensurations of all Altitudes, Longitudes, Latitudes, Distances and Profundities.
1610. A. Horton (title), Baculum Geodæticum, sive Viaticum. Or The Geodeticall Staffe.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., Staff. This is used as an instrument for taking accessible, or inaccessible heights. Ibid., s.v., Station-Staff, in surveying.
1835. Lond. Jrnl. Arts & Sci., Conj. Ser. VI. 330. The graduated staffs or measuring rods being thus placed at the stations.
1880. L. D’A. Jackson, Aids Surv.-Pract., 11. Telemetrical observation on graduated staves. A graduated staff is held vertically at the required distant point [etc.].
† b. (See quot. and cf. JACOB’S STAFF 2 c.)
For other uses see BACKSTAFF, CROSS-STAFF 2, FORE-STAFF, JACOB’S STAFF 2 a.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., Staff, in Surveying, a kind of Stand, whereon to mount a Theodolite, Circumferentor, plain Table, or the like, for use. It consists of Three Legs of Wood, joyned together at one End, whereon the Instrument is placed; and made pecked at the other, to enter the Ground.
† c. = half-breadth staff (see HALF- II. f).
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVII. 407/1. The half breadth staff may be one inch square, and of any convenient length…. Two sides of the staff are marked half breadths, and the other two sides heights of the sheer.
d. The gnomon of a sun-dial.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., VI. iii. 123. The shadow being 83, the Gnomon or Staff 100.
1829. Chapters Phys. Sci., ix. 89. The sun dial, which marks the time by the shadow of a stile or staff.
11. Her. A representation of a stick, stake, bar, etc.; spec. = BATON 3, FISSURE sb. 2 c. See also RAGGED STAFF 1.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, Her., e vij b. Ther be fyssuris or stauys playn ingradyt inueckyt and fusyllatit.
1874. Papworth & Morant, Dict. Coats of Arms, s.v. Staff, Arg. a hawk ppr. … standing on a staff couped and raguled vert. Ibid. Az, eight staves fretty and raguly or.
12. Surg. † a. The piston of a syringe. Obs.
1653. T. Brugis, Vade Mecum (ed. 2), 148. In dangerous fluxes when we give comfortable Clysters, we oftentimes force them up as far as we can, I mean the Liquor by thrusting the staffe harder.
b. A grooved steel instrument used to guide the knife in lithotomy.
1698. Lister, Journ. Paris (1699), 233. He boldly thrusts in a broad Lancet … till he joins the Catheter or Staff, or the Stone betwixt his Fingers.
1720. J. Douglas, Lithotomia Douglas., 14. That [operation] which Surgeons call Cutting on the Staffe, i. e. when a furrow’d Probe is pass’d into the Bladder, upon which they afterwards Cut. Ibid. (1726), Hist. Lateral Operation, 30. The Instruments he made Use of were first a Catheter or Staff.
1839. Hooper’s Lex. Med. (ed. 7), 1216.
1895. Arnold & Sons’ Catal. Surg. Instrum., 572. Stricture Staff (Syme’s). Ibid., 625. Lithotomy Instruments … Six Staffs, grooved.
13. Arch. a. = RUDENTURE.
1817. Rickman, Styles Archit., 95. The square pedestal of the pinnacle being set with an angle to the front, is continued down, and on each side is set a small buttress of a smaller face than this pedestal, thus leaving a small staff between them … this small staff at each set-off has the moulding to it.
b. (See quot. 1812.)
1812. P. Nicholson, Mech. Exerc., 202. Staff, a piece of wood fixed to the external angle of the two upright sides of a wall for floating the plaster to, and for defending the angle against accidents.
1902. R. Sturgis, Dict. Archit., III. 593.
14. a. A rung of a ladder. ? Obs. Cf. STAVE.
c. 1325. Gloss. W. de Bibbesw., in Wright, Voc., 168 (Camb. MS.). [En les reideles vount les roilouns glossed] staves.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 1438. On ilka staffe of a staire stike wald a cluster.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xlvi. 367. The goldyn laddere; of the which the fyrste staffe is contricion of herte.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 68 b. Saynt Bernarde compareth them to a ladder of vii staues.
1563. Homilies, II. Repentance, II. 279. The first staffe or steppe of this ladder.
a. 1657. R. Loveday, Lett. (1663), 273. How many mount Fortunes ladder, and break the staves as they go up.
1657. J. Watts, Scribe, Pharisee, etc. III. 99. They fall off the Ladder at the lower staffe or step again.
1850. G. L. Banks (title), Staves for the Human Ladder.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech.
b. A round cross-bar connecting the handles or stilts of a plow, or the legs of a chair; = ROUND sb.1 3 d. Also, each of the handles of a plow. Obs. or dial. Cf. STAVE.
1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb., § 3. There be two roughe staues in euery ploughe in the hynder ende, set a-slope betwene the ploughe-tayle and the stilt, to holde out and kepe the plough abrode in the hynder ende, and the one lenger than the other.
1652. Blithe, Eng. Improver Impr., II. xxviii. (1653), 190. But for the Plough-handles, some call them … Hales, and some Staves.
1851. Sternberg, Northampt. Gloss., Staff, the spar or ‘round’ of a chair.
† c. A spoke of a wheel. Obs. exc. Her. (also applied to the ‘rays’ of a carbuncle).
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 296. As then the spokes and staves cannot be wanting to a wheele.
1754. Boyer, Gt. Theat. Honour (ed. 2), 116. Staves (is said of the Rays of the Carbuncle), Rais, ou Bâtons d’Escarboucle.
1847. Gloss. Heraldry, 294. Staff, a word applied by some to the rays of an escarbuncle, and the spokes of a wheel.
† d. Weaving. = LAM sb.2
1338. in Dugdale, Monasticon (1819), II. 585/2. Item pro weblomes emptis xxs. Et pro staves ad easdem vjd.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVIII. 835/1. The lams … or, as they are called in some parts of Scotland, the hiddles, and in others the staves.
† c. A bar or rail used in the construction of a gridiron, gate, cart, cage, etc. Obs.
1459. Paston Lett., I. 468. j. roste iren with vij. staves.
1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb., § 5. The bodye of the wayne of oke, the staues … the keys and pikstaues. Ibid., § 70. Make standynge cratches, to caste theyr fodder in, and the staues set nyghe ynough togyther, for pullynge theyr fodder to hastely out. Ibid., § 141. If any gate be broken down, or want any staues.
1596. Mascall, Cattle, Horses, 120. When thou dost take any iourney, with thy horse and cart, thou must … see the rath staues and struts be whole and sound & wel furnished, with staues of good strong holly, hasell, or oak.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXX. x. II. 388. The staves and windings, whereof the said cages are made.
† f. Each of the thin narrow pieces that compose a cask, barrel, tub, etc. Obs. (Now STAVE sb.)
The sing. has always been rare; for examples of pl. from 1398 onwards, see STAVE sb.
1531–2. Act 23 Hen. VIII., c. 4 § 8. If any personne … do mynysshe … any maner of barrell … by reason of … takyng oute of any Staffe out or frome any suche vessell.
1599. Dallam, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.), 35. Ther weare marvalus greate peecis that weare made of hammered Iron, everie stafe at the leaste 3 inches square, and houped aboute lyke a barrell.
† g. The shank of an anchor. Obs. rare–1.
1611. Cotgr., Stangue d’ un’ancre, the staffe of an Anchor.
h. Mech. Each of the cylindrical bars forming the teeth of a trundle or lantern; cf. STAVE sb.
1659, 1812–6. [see LANTERN sb. 7 d].
1764, 1805. [see ROUND sb.1 3 d].
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 24. The semidiameter of a staff of the trundle.
i. Watchmaking. An arbor or axle.
1860. E. B. Denison, Clocks & Watches (ed. 4), 285. The staff or arbor of the balance.
1885. C. G. W. Lock, Workshop Rec., Ser. IV. 339/1. Centre the point so that the body of the staff runs perfectly true.
1902. Daily Chron., 13 May, 10/5. All Jobbers requiring pivots, staffs, cylinders, and complicated watch repairs.
† 15. A pair (of cocks), a set of three (hawks).
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 252/2. Four staves of Cocks (or 16 Cocks). Ibid., 311/1. Three a staff of Hawks.
1691. Ray, S. & E. C. Words, 115. A Staffe of Cocks, a pair of Cocks.
1790. Grose, Prov. Gloss. (ed. 2), A staffe of cocks; a pair of cocks.
16. A bundle of 50 bunches of the heads of the teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) used for teasing cloth. (See also STAVE sb., which occurs in Mortimer, 1707.)
1794. Griggs, Agric. Essex, 19. These heads [of teasel] are … bound up in small bunches, or gleans, of five and twenty heads each; the like number of which bunches, or gleans, constitute half a staff; which, after a few days sun, to harden and dry them, are tied together upon a stick or staff, of two feet and a half long, and in this form, carried to market.
1856. Morton, Cycl. Agric., II. 1126/2. Staff, of teazles (Essex), 50 bunches, or gleans of 25 each = 1250.
17. a. An enclosure or plot of pasture ground. b. A measure of nine feet.
1786. Jackson’s Oxf. Jrnl., 3 June, 1/3. A Ham or Staff of rich Meadow Ground, in Kelmscott, containing ten Acres and a Half.
1796. W. H. Marshall, West Eng., I. 330. Staff: a measure of nine feet; half a customary rod.
II. Letter, verse, musical staff.
These senses are here placed together because of their similarity of application, but it is doubtful whether they have any immediate connection.
† 18. A written character, a letter. Obs. Cf. BOCSTAFF, RUNE-STAVE.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xix. Hwæt is heora nu to lafe, butan … se nama mid feaum stafum awriten?
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., ii. (Z.), 4. Littera is stæf on englisc.
c. 1200. Ormin, 16403–5. & off þatt name toc Drihhtin An staff Allfa ȝehatenn, To timmbrenn till þe firrste mann Hiss name off stafess fowwre.
† b. A mark made by, or as by writing. Obs.
c. 1050. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 346/27. Apicibus, stafum.
c. 1205. Lay., 21154. Þer wes innen igrauen mid rede golde stauen an on-licnes deore of drihtenes moder.
19. † a. A line of verse. Obs.
c. 1450. in Herrig’s Archiv, CIV. 309. All be it the frenssh in foure staves be, The ynglissh sevyn kepith in degree.
c. 1475. Partenay, 6555. As ny as metre can conclude sentence, Cereatly by rew in it haue I go. Nerehand stafe by staf. Ibid., 6581. Als the frensh staffes silabled be More breueloker and shorter also Then is the english lines.
c. 1540. Pilgryms T., 739, in Thynne, Animadv. (1875), App. i. 98. Thes vi stauis … whiche be chaucers own hand work.
† b. A stanza or set of lines. Obs. Cf. BASTON 2.
[There is no ground for the common statement that this is from ON. stef set or recurring time, refrain of a poem.]
a. 1530. J. Heywood, Weather (Brandl), 179*. At thende of this star the god hath a song played in his trone.
a. 1577. Gascoigne, Certayne Notes, ¶ 14, Wks. 1907, I. 471. Rythme royall is a verse of tenne sillables, and seven such verses make a staffe. Ibid. The firste twelve do ryme in staves of foure lines by crosse meetre.
1582. T. Watson, Hekatompath., lxxxviii. (Arb.), 124. The two first staffes (excepting onely the two first verses of all).
1586. W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 59. Some of many rymes in one staffe (as they call it). Ibid., 62. The diuersities of the staues (which are the number of verses contained with the diuisions or partitions of a ditty).
1607. R. C[arew], trans. Estienne’s World of Wonders, 199, marg. A staffe of eight verses.
1656. Cowley, Pindaric Odes, To Dr. Scarborough, Note ii. In the ninth staffe of the Nemeæan Ode.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, Ded. (f) 1 b. Mr. Cowley had found out that no kind of Staff is proper for a Heroick Poem; as being all too lirical.
c. A ‘verse’ or stanza of a song. Now STAVE.
1598. Yong, Diana, 257. These two last staeffs [sic] so liuely touched Parthenius that sung them.
1601. Holland, Pliny, X. xxix. I. 286. Yee shall have them listen attentively to the old birds when they sing, and to take out lessons as it were from them, whom they would seem to imitate staffe by staffe.
1601. B. Jonson, Poetaster, II. ii. I can sing but one staffe of the dittie neither.
1667. C. Simpson, Compend. Mus., 21. The second Staff or Stanza is the same as the first; only it is broken into Crochets.
20. Mus. A set of horizontal lines (now five in number) on which, and in the spaces between, notes are placed so as to indicate pitch. Also STAVE.
In harmonic or concerted music two or more staffs are used together, connected by a brace.
1662. Playford, Skill Mus., I. i. 4. But [for all] Lessons for the Organ, Virginals, or Harp, two staves of six lines together are required.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 157/1. [Follows Playford and adds:] They are called a Staff or Stansa.
1776. Burney, Hist. Mus. (1789), II. 87. The regular staff of four lines.
1806. Calcott, Mus. Gram., 1. The lines and spaces of the Staff are counted upwards.
1842. Westm. Rev., Jan., 34, note. There is a schism among musicians, whether this should be staff or stave, pronounced by some staaf. Authorities are mostly in favour of ‘stave’ but custom may be pleaded for ‘staff’ and ‘staves’ in the plural.
1873. H. C. Banister, Music, 2. Musical characters are written upon a series of parallel lines, termed a Stave or Staff.
attrib. 1881. Broadhouse, Mus. Acoustics, 365. The ordinary musical notation, or, as it is called, the ‘staff notation.’
III. (Pl. always staffs.)
21. Mil. A body of officers appointed to assist a general, or other commanding officer, in the control of an army, brigade, regiment, etc., or in performing special duties (as the medical staff). General staff, a body of officers controlling an army from headquarters under the commander-in-chief. [App. of continental Teut. origin. Cf. the like use of G. stab (also generalstab, regimentsstab, etc.), Du. staf; prob. developed from the sense ‘baton’ (= 7 above).]
[1700. J. A. Astry, trans., Saavedra Faxardo, II. 249. The Germans call a Regiment, and all that belongs to it, the Colonel’s Staff, (den Regiment oder Colonelstab,) for with that Soldiers are to be ruled.]
1781. Simes, Milit. Guide (ed. 3), 7. Stalf of the Army. Ibid. The Staff properly exists only in the time of war.
1790. Debates in Congress, 13 Jan. (1834), 2146. The legionary staff … the brigade staff … the regimental staff. Ibid., 2152. The United States to make an adequate provision … for the following general staff.
1795. in Ld. Auckland’s Corr. (1862), III. 328. My destiny is finally to act on the staff in the island of Corsica.
1801. Med. Jrnl., V. 185. The Medical Staff of the Armies acting in the West Indies.
1844. Queen’s Regul. Army, 5. Any Officer of the Regimental Staff.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, II. 112. Several conferences ensued, not only with the Governor-General, but with members both of his civil and military staff.
1871. Ann. Reg., II. 95. The Duke of Cambridge, with his staff and the foreign officers attending the manœuvres, looked on from Bisley Common.
1875. Encycl. Brit., II. 577. Officers for the General Staff are selected exclusively from the regular army, and except in cases of proved abilities in the field, must have passed through the Staff College…. Officers appointed to the Personal Staff are not required to pass through the Staff College.
22. gen. A body of persons employed, under the direction of a manager or chief, in the work of an establishment or the execution of some undertaking (e.g., a newspaper, hospital, government survey).
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. V. v. Subterranean Rivarol has Fifteen Hundred Men in King’s pay…; what he calls ‘a staff of genius’: Paragraph-writers, Placard Journalists;… one of the strangest Staffs ever commanded by man.
1849. J. J. Blunt, Four Serm., iii. (1850), 84. With what a staff would our colleges be furnished to carry on the same work!
1857. Trollope, Barchester T., xliii. Those caterers for our morning repast, the staff of the Jupiter.
1875. J. W. Dawson, Dawn of Life, iii. 38. One of the explorers on the staff of the Survey.
1879. M. Arnold, Mixed Ess., 152. The teaching staff have to furnish guarantees of their capacity to teach the matters of instruction confided to them.
1884. Times (weekly ed.), 26 Sept., 13/1. Besides their staff of clerks, bookkeepers, &c., they employed about 300 ordinary hands.
1894. Conan Doyle, Mem. Sherlock Holmes, 149. A coachman and two maids form the staff of servants.
23. Staff (of Government): in the Isle of Man, a court of justice presided over by the governor; since 1883 a Division of the High Court.
a. 1700. 34th Customary Law, in Keble, Life Bp. Wilson, xvi. 511. No appeal shall be made from Church censures to the Staff, and none to be privileged from them.
1900. A. W. Moore, Hist. Isle of Man, 836. The courts existing prior to 1883, viz., the Staff of Government, Chancery, Exchequer … [etc.] were united and formed into ‘Divisions’ of the ‘High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man.’… The ‘Staff of Government Division’ … was deprived of all its original jurisdiction, and is now solely an appellate court.
IV. attrib. and Comb.
24. Objective, as staff-bearer, -holder, -maker; instrumental, as staff-supported adj.
1553. in Kempe, Losely MSS. (1836), 44. Touching the stafmaker … I wyll see hym contented.
1611. Cotgr., Bastonnier, a staffe-bearer, or Vergier.
1814. Wordsw., White Doe, I. 217. That bearded, staff-supported Sire.
1880. L. D’A. Jackson, Aids Surv.-Pract., 98. The staff-holders must … be capable of holding the staff truly vertical.
25. In sense ‘of or belonging to a military staff’ (see 21), as staff appointment, duty, parade, pay, surgeon, uniform; staff cap, a flat-topped cap with a peak, such as forms part of various uniforms: staff college, a school in which officers are trained for staff appointments; staff corps, a body of officers and men organized to assist the commanding officer and his staff in various special departments; in India, a corps formed in each of the three presidencies to supply officers for service; staff-ride (see quot. 1902); hence staff-rider; staff sergeant (see quot. 1876). Also STAFF OFFICER.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Passion & Princ., iii. II. 303. The Captain, habituated to India, ‘held on,’ with *staff appointments, as long as he could.
1875. Encycl. Brit., II. 577/2. Staff appointments are held for five years only.
1902. Westm. Gaz., 16 June, 8/2. His Majesty,… with hand raised to *staff-cap, in military salute.
1904. Daily Chron., 23 Aug., 8/1. The woman who depends upon a motor-car for recreation … wears a staff-cap just as much as she who goes yachting.
1868. Queen’s Regul. Army, § 220. No Officer will be appointed to the Staff, who shall not have passed the final examination of the *Staff College.
1811. Regul. Army, 121. The Royal *Staff Corps.
1813. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp. (1838), XI. 122. I have therefore had cut out the sheets … containing the maps of the country immediately in my front, which I have had pasted upon linen by the Staff corps.
1853. Sir H. Douglas, Milit. Bridges (ed. 3), 241. Two companies of the Staff Corps were accordingly sent, with a strong working party, to Baragona, to make a bridge across the Tietar.
1880. Gen. Adye, in 19th Cent., April, 698. All officers now seeking what is called an Indian career in any capacity—regimental, staff, or civil—must enter one of the three Staff Corps.
1909. Grangatli, in Blackw. Mag., April, 568/2. The band was playing the old-time melody, ‘My Arab Steed, Farewell,’ whilst the Adjutant inspected the *staff parade.
1876. Voyle & Stevenson, Milit. Dict., 401/1. *Staff Pay, pay given to officers and soldiers in the government service, who perform duties either on the permanent staff of an army or in regimental or departmental employment.
1898. E. S. May, Field Artillery, 25. We have done the same sort of thing in this country in the form of *‘staff-rides.’
1902. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 10), XXXIII. 7/1. ‘Staff-rides,’ as exercises on the ground without troops have come to be called, are just as effective a means of teaching strategy as field-days are of teaching tactics.
1910. C. Lowe, in Contemp. Rev., Jan., 46. No one came forward who, with his own eyes, had seen the alleged *staff-riders.
1811. Regul. Army, 147. *Staff Serjeants.
1851. Ord. Royal Engin., § 26. 121. On no account is any Non-Commissioned Officer acting as a Staff-Serjeant to be employed as a Pay-Serjeant.
1876. Voyle & Stevenson, Milit. Dict., 401/1. Staff Sergeants, non-commissioned officers employed on the staff of a regiment, district, or division.
1794. Gentl. Mag., Nov., 995/2. Whilst the regimental surgeons are thus engaged in the field of battle the new *staff-surgeons … are to be found at the general hospital, perhaps … 20 or 30 miles … from the scene of action.
1803. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp. (1844), I. 539. Mr. Gilmour, the Staff surgeon with this division of the army.
1809. Byron, Ch. Har., II. lxii. note. I was dressed in a full suit of *staff uniform.
b. In the Navy used to designate a senior grade of officers, as staff captain, commander, surgeon.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Staff-Captain, a designation conferred in 1863 upon masters of the fleet. Ibid., Staff-Commanders, a designation conferred in 1863 on masters of fifteen years’ seniority.
1875. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., v. (ed. 2), 150, note. Staff-Commander Thomas A. Hull, R.N.
1913. Times, 13 Aug., 4/1. The first paper on Caisson Disease, or compressed air illness, was read by Staff-Surgeon Stewart, R.N.
c. In sense ‘belonging to the staff of a hospital, hotel, or other large establishment’ (see 22).
1888. Honnor Morten, Sk. Hosp. Life, 6. An intelligent and capable woman can expect to rise by gradations from ‘staff-nurse’ to ‘sister.’
1902. Daily Chron., 13 May, 10/7. Woman (Strong, active) as staff maid…. Apply Housekeeper, Hotel Windsor.
26. Special comb. (see also 25): staff-angle, -bead = 13 b (cf. angle-staff, angle-bead s.v. ANGLE sb.2 8); hence staff-beaded a.; staff-bismar, a kind of steelyard; † staff-drive v. = staff-herd; staff-head, the upper end of a staff, carved, tipped with metal, etc.; the top of the tripod that supports a theodolite or other measuring-instrument; staff-herd v. trans., to depasture sheep in charge of a shepherd upon common or forest land; staff-hook, ‘a sharp hook fastened to a long handle to cut peas and beans and to trim hedges’ (I. of Wight Gloss., 1881); staff-land Isle of Man [= med.L. terra de baculo], certain land in the parish of St. Maughold, also formerly in that of St. Patrick, the holder of which had the custody of the patron saint’s pastoral staff; staff-man † (a) a man who wields a staff or cudgel; (b) a workman employed in silk-throwing (Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Suppl. 1883); † staff-shide, a billet of wood for fuel; † staff-striker, a sturdy beggar, tramp; † staff-torch, a tall thick candle used for ceremonial purposes; staff-tree, the genus Celastrus; staff-vine, Celastrus scandens of U.S.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Staff-angle.
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 239. The angles of the chimney breasts to have proper *staff beads.
1842. Gwilt, Archit., Gloss., Angle Bead, or Staff Bead.
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 1598. Fix 1-inch deal tongued and splayed and *staff-beaded linings to three windows.
a. 1733. Shetland Acts, 31, in Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot. (1892), XXVI. 200. That none use *staff bismers, nor any other save such as are adjusted and marked to buy and sell on.
1566. in Hyslop, Ch. Stretton (1904), II. 178. [John Nichols, who had taken cattle] cum baculis, videlicet, *Staff-dryve [over Whittington Heath to the injury of the township].
1506. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., III. 355. xij *staf hedis.
1766. Complete Farmer, s.v. Surveying 7 I 1/2 Turn about the table upon the staff-head.
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 2947. (Theodolite) The tripod and its staff-head.
1888. in Archæologia, LI. 373. A staff-head of wood, coloured and gilded.
1563. in W. Nicolson, Leges Marchiarum (1705), 138. If it shall happen the Cattel or Sheep of the one Realm to be *staff-herded, or to remain depasturing upon the ground of the opposite Realm. Ibid., marg. Staffherding of Cattel.
1595. in C. W. Hatfield, Hist. Notices Doncaster (1866), I. 168. Doncaster time out of mind have made drives … and staff hearded upon the moor.
1828. [Carr], Craven Gloss., Staff hird, to have sheep under the care of a shepherd.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 29. Pees and benes be … reped or mowen … some with sickles, some with hokes, and some with *staffe-hokes.
1890. A. W. Moore, Surnames, etc. Isle of Man, 122. *Staff lands.
1659. Torriano, Bastoniére … also a cudgeler, a *staff-man.
1411. Rolls of Parlt., III. 665/2. Tout le maresme & fuaile, autrement appelle *Staffes-hides [sic] & Kides. Ibid. (1376), II. 340/2. Et plusours de eux devenent *stafstrikers.
1468. Maldon (Essex) Liber B. lf. 12 b. Nyghtwalkeres, stastrykeres [sic], and evesedropperes.
1532–3. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 361. item, paid for iij *staf torches of wex, to hold at the levacion ijs vjd.
1556. Chron. Grey Friars (Camden), 54. ij C. powre men in blacke gownes holdynge staffe torches.
1580–1. Act 23 Eliz., c. 8 § 3. Wares wrought with Waxe, as in Lightes, Staftorches.
1633. Johnson, Gerarde’s Herbal, App. 1600. Celastrus Theophrasti. The *staffe tree.
1771. J. R. Forster, Flora Amer. Septentr., 11. Celastrus bullatus. Staff tree, elegant. Virginia.
1884. W. Miller, Plant-n., 130. *Staff-vine, Celastrus scandens.
