n. An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, but now superseded by the quadrant and sextant; -- so called because the observer turned his back to the body observed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Bedstaves “A wooden pin stuck anciently on the sides of the bedstead, to hold the clothes from slipping on either side.” Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hostess, accommodate us with a bedstaff. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Say there is no virtue in cudgels and bedstaves. Brome. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A broomstick. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Colstaff. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. col neck + E. staff. Cf. Coll. ] A staff by means of which a burden is borne by two persons on their shoulders. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cowl a vessel + staff. ] A staff or pole on which a vessel is supported between two persons. Suckling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of celestial bodies. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A surveyor's instrument for measuring offsets. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Distaffs rarely Distaves [ OE. distaf, dysestafe, AS. distaef; cf. LG. diesse the bunch of flax on a distaff, and E. dizen. See Staff. ] 1. The staff for holding a bunch of flax, tow, or wool, from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will the distaff hold; come thou and spin. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Used as a symbol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a woman; women, collectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

His crown usurped, a distaff on the throne. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some say the crozier, some say the distaff was too busy. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The plural is regular, but Distaves occurs in Beaumont & Fletcher. [ 1913 Webster ]

Descent by distaff, descent on the mother's side. --
Distaff Day, or
Distaff's Day, the morrow of the Epiphany, that is, January 7, because working at the distaff was then resumed, after the Christmas festival; -- called also Rock Day, a distaff being called a rock. Shipley. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. Sir John Falstaff, a celebrated character in Shakespeare's historical play " Henry IV." (1st and 2d parts), and also in " The Merry Wives of Windsor." He is a very fat, sensual, and witty old knight; a swindler, drunkard, and good-tempered liar; and something of a coward. Falstaff was originally called Sir John Oldcastle. The first actor of the part was John Heminge. [ Century Dict. 1906 ]

☞ Shakespeare found the name of John Oldcastle in the ... older play of "Henry V."; in the Chronicle he found a John Oldcastle, who was page to the Duke of Norfolk who plays a part in "Richard II."; and this, according to Shakespeare, his Falstaff (Oldcastle) had been in his youth. When the poet wrote his "Henry IV." he knew not who this Oldcastle was, whom he had rendered so distinct with the designation as Norfolk's page; he was a Lord Cobham [ Sir John Oldcastle, known as the good lord Cobham ], who had perished as a Lollard and Wickliffite in the persecution of the church under Henry V. The Protestants regarded him as a holy martyr, the Catholics as a heretic; the latter seized with eagerness this description of the fat poltroon, and gave it out as a portrait of Lord Cobham, who was indeed physically and mentally his contrast. The family complained of this misuse of a name dear to them, and Shakespeare declared in the epilogue to "Henry IV." that Cobham was in his sight also a martyr, and that "this was not the man." At the same time, he changed the name to Falstaff, but this was of little use; in spite of the express retraction, subsequent Catholic writers on church history still declared Falstaff to be a portrait of the heretic Cobham. But it is a strange circumstance that even now under the name of Falstaff another historical character is again sought for, just as if it were impossible for such a vigorous form not to be a being of reality. It was referred to John Fastolfe, whose cowardice is more stigmatised in "Henry VI." than history justifies; and this too met with public blame, although Shakespeare could have again asserted that he intended Fastolfe as little as Cobham. Gervinus, Shakespeare Commentaries (tr. by K. E. Bunnett, [ ed. 1880), p. 800. [ Century Dict. 1906 ]

adj. Of or pertaining to Falstaff, a character in Shakespeare's plays. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n.; pl. -staves r -staffs A staff{ 4 } on which a flag is hoisted. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of heavenly bodies, now superseded by the sextant; -- called also cross-staff. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prov. E. gib a hooked stick + E. staff. ] 1. A staff to guage water, or to push a boat. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A staff formerly used in fighting beasts on the stage. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Those persons in a business responsible for maintaining the physical plant in good condition.
Syn. -- service staff, maintenance crew. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The staff, or shaft, of a pike. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A staff with a spike in the lower end, to guard against slipping. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Quarterstaves A long and stout staff formerly used as a weapon of defense and offense; -- so called because in holding it one hand was placed in the middle, and the other between the middle and the end. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Cf. Rock, v. i. ] An oscillating bar in a machine, as the lever of the bellows of a forge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Staves r Staffs n senses 1-9, Staffs in senses 10, 11. [ AS. staef a staff; akin to LG. & D. staf, OFries. stef, G. stab, Icel. stafr, Sw. staf, Dan. stav, Goth. stabs element, rudiment, Skr. sthāpay to cause to stand, to place. See Stand, and cf. Stab, Stave, n. ] 1. A long piece of wood; a stick; the long handle of an instrument or weapon; a pole or stick, used for many purposes; as, a surveyor's staff; the staff of a spear or pike. [ 1913 Webster ]

And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar to bear it withal. Ex. xxxviii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

With forks and staves the felon to pursue. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A stick carried in the hand for support or defense by a person walking; hence, a support; that which props or upholds. “Hooked staves.” Piers Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

The boy was the very staff of my age. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

He spoke of it [ beer ] in “The Earnest Cry, ” and likewise in the “Scotch Drink, ” as one of the staffs of life which had been struck from the poor man's hand. Prof. Wilson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A pole, stick, or wand borne as an ensign of authority; a badge of office; as, a constable's staff. [ 1913 Webster ]

Methought this staff, mine office badge in court,
Was broke in twain. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

All his officers brake their staves; but at their return new staves were delivered unto them. Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A pole upon which a flag is supported and displayed. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The round of a ladder. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I ascended at one [ ladder ] of six hundred and thirty-nine staves. Dr. J. Campbell (E. Brown's Travels). [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A series of verses so disposed that, when it is concluded, the same order begins again; a stanza; a stave. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cowley found out that no kind of staff is proper for an heroic poem, as being all too lyrical. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Mus.) The five lines and the spaces on which music is written; -- formerly called stave. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Mech.) An arbor, as of a wheel or a pinion of a watch. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Surg.) The grooved director for the gorget, or knife, used in cutting for stone in the bladder. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. [ From Staff, 3, a badge of office. ] (Mil.) An establishment of officers in various departments attached to an army, to a section of an army, or to the commander of an army. The general's staff consists of those officers about his person who are employed in carrying his commands into execution. See État Major. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. Hence: A body of assistants serving to carry into effect the plans of a superintendent or manager; sometimes used for the entire group of employees of an enterprise, excluding the top management; as, the staff of a newspaper. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Jacob's staff (Surv.), a single straight rod or staff, pointed and iron-shod at the bottom, for penetrating the ground, and having a socket joint at the top, used, instead of a tripod, for supporting a compass. --
Staff angle (Arch.), a square rod of wood standing flush with the wall on each of its sides, at the external angles of plastering, to prevent their being damaged. --
The staff of life, bread. “Bread is the staff of life.” Swift. --
Staff tree (Bot.), any plant of the genus Celastrus, mostly climbing shrubs of the northern hemisphere. The American species (Celastrus scandens) is commonly called bittersweet. See 2d Bittersweet, 3 (b). --
To set up one's staff,
To put up one's staff,
To set down one's staff or
To put down one's staff, to take up one's residence; to lodge. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ G. staffiren to fill or fit out, adorn, fr. D. stoffeeren, OF. estoffer, F. étoffer, fr. OF. estoffe stuff, F. étoffe. See Stuff, n. ] (Arch.) Plaster combined with fibrous and other materials so as to be suitable for sculpture in relief or in the round, or for forming flat plates or boards of considerable size which can be nailed to framework to make the exterior of a larger structure, forming joints which may afterward be repaired and concealed with fresh plaster. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. An attendant bearing a staff. [ Obs. ] “Staffiers on foot.” Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Stiff; harsh. [ Obs. ] Ascham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Staffmen A workman employed in silk throwing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Tipstaff 1. A staff tipped with metal. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An officer who bears a staff tipped with metal; a constable. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A bar attached to the tiller, for convenience in steering. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Wringstaves (Shipbuilding) A strong piece of plank used in applying wringbolts. [ 1913 Webster ]