STAPLE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English stapel post, ~, from Old English stapol post; akin to Middle Dutch stapel step, heap, emporium, Old English steppan to step Date: 13th century a usually U-shaped fastener: as, a metal loop both ends of which are driven into a surface to hold the hook, hasp, or bolt of a lock, secure a rope, or fix a wire in place, a small wire both ends of which are driven through layers of thin and easily penetrable material (as paper) and usually clinched to hold the layers together, a usually metal surgical fastener used to hold layers of tissue together (as in the closure of an incision), II. transitive verb (~d; stapling) Date: 14th century to provide with or secure by ~s, III. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French e~, from Middle Dutch stapel emporium Date: 15th century a town used as a center for the sale or exportation of commodities in bulk, a place of supply ; source , a chief commodity or production of a place, 4. a commodity for which the demand is constant, something having widespread and constant use or appeal, the sustaining or principal element ; substance , raw material , 6. textile fiber (as wool and rayon) of relatively short length that when spun and twisted forms a yarn rather than a filament, the length of a piece of such textile fiber, IV. adjective Date: 1615 used, needed, or enjoyed constantly usually by many individuals, produced regularly or in large quantities , principal , chief