Main Entry:

¹staff

Pronunciation:

\ˈstaf\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural staffs \ˈstafs, ˈstavz\ or staves \ˈstavz, ˈstāvz\

Etymology:

Middle English staf, from Old English stæf; akin to Old High German stab staff, Sanskrit stabhnāti he supports

Date:

before 12th century

1 a: a long stick carried in the hand for support in walking b: a supporting rod: as (1)archaic : shaft 1a(1) (2): a crosspiece in a ladder or chair : rung (3): flagstaff (4): a pivoted arbor c: club, cudgel2 a: crosier b: a rod carried as a symbol of office or authority3: the horizontal lines with their spaces on which music is written —called also stave4: any of various graduated sticks or rules used for measuring : rod5plural staffs a: the officers chiefly responsible for the internal operations of an institution or business b: a group of officers appointed to assist a civil executive or commanding officer c: military or naval officers not eligible for operational command d: the personnel who assist a director in carrying out an assigned task eplural staff : a member of a staff <employs three full-time staff>

— staff adjective