dial. Obs. [? Connected with STAKE sb.1; but cf. STAVER.] (See quot. 1879.)
1739. Tull, Horse-hoeing Husb., i. (1762), 5, note. This Witch-Elm is a very old decay’d Stump, which is here called a Staggar.
1793. Bailiff’s Diary, 13 Dec., in Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., 408. Began to repair our fences, which is much wanted. Bought a load of staggers from Nuttree Bank to put in barren gapes.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., Staggers, strong, well-grown thorn-bushes, holly-bushes, &c.,—cropped for hedgerow purposes—taken up by the roots and replanted, sometimes to make a new fence, but more frequently to fill up gaps in an old one.
