Also 4 Sc. staffing. [f. STAVE v. and sb. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the verb STAVE. Chiefly with advs. off, in.
1633. W. Watts, in T. James, Voy., S. He … does like the Ship here spoken of, runne against a Rocke, endanger his owne bulge, and the stauing of his vessell.
1666. Temple, Let. Ld. Arlington, Wks. 1731, II. 14. Neither the Emperor nor Spain will contribute any thing towards the Bishop’s Assistance, nor so much as the staving off Enemies.
1815. Coleridge, Let. W. Money, Lett. (1895), II. 651. The staying off of pain is no pleasure.
1852. Bentley’s Misc., XXXI. 57. Talk of fun, there never wos any like that which followed the staving-in of the heads of them barrels.
† 2. a. The action of striking with staves. Obs. b. The action of setting up defensive or protective stakes or staves. Obs.
c. 1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVII. 785. With staffing, stoking, and striking Thar maid thai sturdy defending.
c. 1543. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 245. The Kings Majesties oficeres requireth of you and or me … to be contribetors to the charges and staving of the watters of Ancotes.
3. Staves collectively. a. The staves of a trundle (see TRUNDLE sb. 2). b. (See quot. 1875.)
1491. in Reg. S., Cant. Cath. Libr., 368 b. The Priorie & Conuent shall repair the seid two watirmylles Except coggyng and stavyng, which shalbe at the costes of the seid John John & Thomas.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Staving, a casing of staves or planks which forms a curb around turbine or similar water-wheel.
