a. Obs. Also 6–9 Sc. staffage. [f. STAFF sb.1 + -ISH.] a. Rigid, stiff, hard. b. fig. Stubborn, unmanageable.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lx. 17. Stuffettis, strekouris, and stafische strummellis.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XII. vi. 134. Thymetes, a man of full gret fors, Castyn from hys staffage, skeich and hedstrang hors.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph., II. (Arb.), 118. An unfit and staffysh bow. Ibid. (a. 1568), Scholem., I. (Arb.), 34. A witte in youth, that is not ouer dulle, heauie, knottie and lumpishe, but hard, rough, and though somwhat staffishe.
a. 1568. A. Scott, Poems, xxi. 17. I fand hir of ane staffage kynd, Bath staitly, strange, and he.
1802. J. Sibbald, Chron. Scot. Poetry, IV. Gloss., Staffage, Staffisch, obstinate, obdurate, dry in the mouth, or not easily swallowed, like pease meal bannocks.
