Staff

staf, n. pi. Staves (stavz) or Staffs (stafs). A pole or stick a stick carried in the hand for support or defense; a support. (Jfos.) The 5 lines and the spaces on which music written. A pole or stick borne as an ensign of authority; a pole erected in a ship, or elsewhere, to hoist and display a flag upon. (Mil.) An establishment of officers in various departments attached to an army, or to the commander of an army a corps of executive officers connected with some large establishment, who act in carrrying out designs. [PI., in this sense, Staffs only.] [ME., D., and Sw. staf, AS. stsef; stub, stab, stand.] — Stave, stav, n. A thin, narrow piece of wood, of which casks, etc., are made; a stanza; verse; portion of a song or poem. — v. [staved (stavd) or stove (stov), staving.] To thrust through with a staff; to break ahole in, burst; am, fame, far, pa or opera, fare end, STAIR cause the contents of to be lost; to push, as with a staff; to delay, put off, drive away, — with off; to pour out to render solid by compre ing with a pointed or edged tool. [Dan., a stave, stav, a staff.]