[From the attributive use of STAPLE sb.2, as in staple-ware.]
1. Originally, qualifying commodity or words of similar meaning: Having a foremost place among the products exported by a country or place. Hence, in wider sense: Having the chief place among the articles of production or consumption, the industries, employments, etc., of a place, a people, or an individual, or among the constituent elements of anything.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 221. The staple commodities are cotton woolles … chamolets, salt and sope-ashes.
1633. Sir J. Boroughs, Sov. Brit. Seas (1651), 150. Wee may as easily grow expert in the Art of Fishing, and in time make it a staple commodity of our owne.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Glouc. (1662), 351. The staple use of Sider is at Sea, where it quencheth thirst better than other liquor.
1699. Sir W. Temple, Ess. Pop. Discont., Wks. 1731, I. 263. Woollen manufacture … ought to be ever the Staple Trade of England, as that of Linnen ought to be of Ireland.
1715. Bentley, Serm., x. 371. Nothing but Mass-books and Rosaries … shall then be the staple commodities, even in an University.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 201. Agriculture is … that art … from which the most staple commodities must proceed, to wit, corn and wool.
1841. L. Hunt, Seer (1864), 25. We confined ourselues to tea, because it is the staple drink.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., xi. (1879), 236. The only country in the world where a cryptogamic plant affords a staple article of food.
1859. C. Barker, Assoc. Princ., ii. 44. Woollen cloth, which the King sought to make the staple manufacture of his own dominions.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., vii. 112. Their staple subjects of thought.
1872. Jenkinson, Engl. Lake Distr. (1879), 129. The staple trade of Keswick.
1900. Elworthy, Horns of Honour, ii. 89. The staple accusation made by these wretches against their victins [witches] was that of being in compact with the devil.
† b. Of a book, an author: Standard. Obs.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. State, III. xviii. 200. Proportion an houres meditation to an houres reading of a staple Authour.
a. 1730. Fenton, Poems, To Knt. Sable Shield, 28. And while each little author struts In calves-skin gilt, adorn’d with cuts; I, vouching, pass ’em off as dear As any staple-classic ware.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 223. The Chinese … say by heart all their Staple Books without Hesitation.
† c. Home-grown, native; characteristic of the country. Obs.
[1648. Art. Peace, xiv. in Milton’s Wks. (1851), IV. 519. Certain Articles added to the same Act, all concerning staple or native Commodities of this Kingdom, shall be repealed.]
1771. Junius Lett., lvii. 295. Pernicious influence … banishes the staple virtues of the Country.
† 2. (? Confused with STABLE a.) Permanent, stable. Obs.
1621. Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 536. The Athenians gaue the Tenth, not onely of spoyles for once, and no more, but of land, to be a standing staple Tithe for euer. Ibid. (a. 1641), Acts & Mon. (1642), 11. For sacrifice, in shedding of bloud, was the principall staple, standing Service of God in Nature [Often in Mountagu.]
a. 1642. Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, V. (1704), 454/1. [He] will be sure to make his Foundation form and staple.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., III. xxix. 196. Time cannot be applied to any being of staple and permanent duration.
† 3. In STATUTE STAPLE the adj. replaces the phrase of the Staple, on the analogy of statute merchant (see STATUTE sb.); hence also in recognisance staple, a recognisance taken before the mayor of the staple. Obs.
1586. Hooker, Holinshed’s Chron. Irel., 139/2. They haue a maior and officers of the staple … who haue the liberties for taking of statutes and recognisances staple, not onelie within their owne towne … but also of sundrie townes in Leinster and Mounster, and the counties of Waterford, Kilkennie, Wexford, and Tipporarie.
