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, cudgel
2 a : crosier b : a rod carried as a symbol of office or authority
3 : the horizontal lines with their spaces on which music is written —called also stave
4 : any of various graduated sticks or rules used for measuring : rod
5 plural 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 e plural staff : a member of a staff <employs three full-time staff>

— staff adjective