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dle of an instrument or weapon; a pole or srick, used for many purposes; as, a surveyor's staff; the staff of a spear or pike. And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar to bear it withal. Ex. xxxviii. 7. With forks and staves the felon to pursue. Dryden.

An attendant bearing a staff. [Obs.] "Staffiers on foot." Hudibras.

Stiff; harsh. [Obs.] Ascham.

A workman employed in silk throwing.

An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, but now superseded by the quadrant and sextant; -- so called because the observer turned his back to the body observed.

old the clothes from slipping on either side." Johnson. Hostess, accommodate us with a bedstaff. B. Jonson. Say there is no virtue in cudgels and bedstaves. Brome.

A broomstick. [Obs.] Shak.

See Colstaff.

A staff by means of which a burden is borne by two persons on their shoulders.

A staff or pole on which a vessel is supported between two persons. Suckling.

An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of celestial bodies.

The staff for holding a bunch of flax, tow, or wool, from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand. I will the distaff hold; come thou and spin. Fairfax.

A staff on which a flag is hoisted.

ng the altitudes of heavenly bodies, now superseded by the sextant; -- called also cross- staff. Brande & C.

A staff to guage water, or to push a boat.

The staff, or shaft, of a pike.

A long and stout staff formerly used as a weapon of defense and offense; -- so called because in holding it one hand was placed in the middle, and the other between the middle and the end.

An oscillating bar in a machine, as the lever of the bellows of a forge.

A staff tipped with metal. Bacon.

A bar attached to the tiller, for convenience in steering.