I. ˈstāv noun
( -s )
Etymology: back-formation from staves, plural of staff (I)
1. : a wooden stick : cudgel , staff
2.
a. : any of the narrow strips of wood or narrow iron plates placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel or structure — see barrel illustration
b. : a piece shaped like a stave: as
(1) : a bearing strip for an arch centering
(2) : a slat of a hayrack
3.
a. : any of the bars of a lantern pinion
b. : a bar or round of a rack or ladder
4.
a. : a set of verses (as a stanza)
forms that deviate from the common epic measure, such as the Northern lyrical staves — W.P.Ker
b. : a letter of an alphabet
5.
a. : a staff in music notation
b. : a bar or brief passage of music
the quick, eager stave of the chaffinch — Scotsman
6. : bowstave
7. : the stem of an acanthus leaf in classic architectural ornament
II. verb
( staved -vd ; or stove -tōv ; staved or stove ; staving ; staves )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to break in the staves of (a cask) so that the wine or liquor is lost
b. : to lose or destroy (wine or liquor) by smashing the cask
2.
a. : to cause a break in (a boat's hull) : smash (a hole) in a boat — often used with in
whose deckhouse had been stove in by the tremendous seas — Homer Bigart
b. : to crush in : break inward
staved in several ribs
3. : to furnish with or form into staves
4. : to thrust with great force
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to come apart (as a cask or barrel) : break up
b. : to become stove in — used of a boat or ship
2. : to walk or move rapidly : hurry , rush
•
- stave and tail