staff

1 a body of persons at work or available for work we're working with a short staff at the office today Synonyms help, labor force, manpower, personnel, pool, force, workforceRelated Words labor, proletariat, rank and file; band, company, crew, gang, outfit, party, squad, team; employee (also employe), helper, hireling, worker; blood; support

2 a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment carried a staff for self-defense when walking alone at night Synonyms bastinado (or bastinade), bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, cudgel, nightstick, rod, rung [Scottish], sap, shillelagh (also shillalah), club, truncheon, waddy [Australian]Related Words blackjack, knobkerrie, mace; birch, crabstick, hickory, rattan, stave, switch; beetle, gavel, hammer, mallet, maul, sledgehammer; crook, crosier (or crozier), walking stick, whangee