Middle English Dictionary Entry

staf n.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms staf n. Also staf(f)e, stafte, stavfe, stāf, stāve, (in cpds.) sta- & (early) stæf(e, (SWM or SW) stæve, steaf, steave, stef, (early infl.) stafæ, stæfæ & (in place name) stauve- & (error in cpd.) stas-; pl. stafs, etc. & stave, stavenes, stoves, (K) steves, (early) stafas, staven & (error) stanes.
Etymology OE stæf, LOE stef, dat. stæfe; pl. stafas, gen. stafa, stafena.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
(a) A stick of wood, rod; also, a stick of ivory; (b) a branch or limb of a tree; a stalk of a plant.
Show 19 Quotations
1b.
(a) A walking stick, cane; walker ~; (b) fig. something that gives support; a means of sustaining life, sustenance; ~ of bred; (c) ~ beggere, a beggar; ~ striker, a vagabond who carries a staff, esp. with felonious intent; beggere ~, penury; (d) in proverbs and prov. expressions.
Show 33 Quotations
1c.
(a) A club or clublike weapon; also fig.; also, a polearm; ~ brekinge, fighting; ~ makere; stif ~, a hard or sturdy club; -- ?with double entendre or punning ref. to distaf n.; (b) a spiritual weapon, esp. the cross as used in spiritual battles; an instrument or agent of spiritual discipline; rode ~; breken ~, to fight; (c) in proverbs and prov. expressions.
Show 34 Quotations
1d.
(a) A bishop's staff, crosier; a shepherd's crook; also fig.; herdes ~, shepherdes ~, ~ pastoralle, pastoralle ~, (b) the staff to which a crucifix, ?or the pole to which a banner, is attached for processions; cros ~ [see cros n. 9.(a)]; (c) a rod carried as a mark of office, a baton; a scepter; also iron.; also, fig. the power of a state [1st quot.]; husting ~, ?a staff of office used at hustings.
Show 30 Quotations
1e.
A rod used for miscellaneous purposes: (a) a rung of a ladder; also fig.; also, one of the uprights of a ladder [quots. c1465 & a1500 *Medulla]; also, the railing of a cart [2nd quot.]; laddere(s ~; rung ~; (b) a carrying pole; bering ~; fagot ~, a pole for carrying fagots; (c) a stirring implement; (d) a candlestick; the shaft of a candlestick; judas ~, = Judas n. 2.(b); (e) a rod in a loom, a lam; a shaft in a windmill; (f) one of the crossbars of a gridiron.
Show 29 Quotations
1f.
In misc. cpds. & combs.: (a) ~ gonne, ?a hand cannon; ?a harquebus; ?~ herde [cp. EMnE staff-herd v., staff-herding], ?a payment in return for the right to have a herdsman accompany cattle grazing on common land; ?the duty of a tenant to accompany the lord's cattle on common land; ~ iren, ?iron for a metal staff; ~ lithere [OE stæf-liðere], a sling attached to a staff; ~ shide, a piece of wood used for fuel; ~ slinge, q.v.; ~ slingere, a soldier armed with a staff-sling; (b) aker (gret, kir, sulou) ~, an implement for cleaning the coulter and moldboard of a plough; boue ~ [see boue n. 2.(d)]; cart ~, a tongue or a shaft of a cart; piked ~ [see piked adj. (c)]; plough ~ [see plough n. 1c.(e)]; ragged ~ [see also ragged-staf n.]; spitel ~, a spade; standard ~ [see standard n. 4.(a)]; tipped ~ [see tippen v.(2) (b)]; tonne ~ [see tonne n.].
Show 18 Quotations
2.
(a) An alphabetic character, a letter; also, an engraved character or image; ~ craft [OE stæf-cræft], book learning; (b) a line of verse.
Show 8 Quotations
3.
Her. A bend sinister.
Show 2 Quotations
4.
A measure of land, perh. equal to nine feet squared [cp. MnE dial. staff a measure of nine feet]; ~ aker, a small piece of land, perh. enclosed or set off by a fence; -- also used as a measure of land [2nd quot.].
Show 3 Quotations
5.
In surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2. 141].
Show 11 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • (1466) *Acc.R.Shirborn : Assault' cum un' Turnyngstaf.
    • Note: Probably belongs to sense 1f. "In misc. cpds. & combs." I believe the gloss should be queried, as I can find no reference to this particular type of staff. It may be some sort spit or broach, but see turning(e ger., sense 1.(b), which also has this quot. and glosses the cpd.: "~ staf?a club wielded with a turning motion; ?a mace [could also be construed as ppl. and belong to turnen v.]" The gloss should be the same for both entries.--per MLL
Note: Correction under staf 1b.(a), in quot. a1400 Cursor, walker staue is not a walking stick (as suggested by the gloss on this phrase) but a fuller's tool. See walker n.(2).--per JLS.
Note: The gloss is queried there.--per MM

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1484 Staff Jacob (Trin-C R.14.52)664/1296 : Iff thow wilt make the Staff of Jacob, take a iiij-square yerd to the length of j or ij elnes, lengger or shorter. Than take the voluel to the length of j or ij handful. And the longitude or length of that voluel thow shalt signe or marke in a yerd.
  • a1484 Staff Jacob (Trin-C R.14.52)665/1321 : If ther bien xij feete bitwene ij staciouns and the voluel was sette in the v signe of Jacobs Staf, therfor multiplie v bi xij and thow shalt have lx, whiche shuln be the distaunces.
    • Note: ?New sense (prob. under 1e.) Jacobs ~ or ~ of Jacob 'an instrument used to make astronomical & nautical measurements'
    Note: Cf. OED Jacob's staff, n., sense 2. a. or b.

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