~ 1
■ noun
1》 [treated as sing. or plural ] the employees of a particular organization.
↘a group of officers assisting an officer in command of an army formation or administration headquarters.
↘(usu. Staff ) short for ~ sergeant .
2》 a long stick used as a support or weapon.
↘a rod or sceptre held as a sign of office or authority.
↘ Surveying a rod for measuring distances or heights.
3》 Brit. a spindle in a watch.
4》 Music another term for stave (in sense 2).
5》 Brit. a token in the form of a rod given to a train driver as authority to proceed over a single-track line.
■ verb provide with ~.
Phrases
the ~ of life bread or another staple food.
Origin
OE stæf (in sense 2), of Gmc origin.
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~ 2
■ noun a mixture of plaster of Paris, cement, etc. used for temporary building work.
Origin
C19: of unknown origin.