staff

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a strong rod or stick with a specialized utilitarian purpose

   I walked with the help of a wooden staff.

2. 2
   noun

   the body of teachers and administrators at a school

   the dean addressed the letter to the entire staff of the university

3. 3
   noun

   personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task

   the hospital has an excellent nursing staff

4. 4
   verb

   provide with staff

   This position is not always staffed

5. 5
   verb

   serve on the staff of

   The two men staff the reception desk

6. 6
   noun

   A long, straight, thick wooden rod or stick, especially one used to assist in walking.

   And thus ſhall ye eate it [the lamb]: with your loines girded, your ſhooes on your feet, and your ſtaffe in your hand: and ye ſhall eate it in haſte: it is the Lords Paſſeouer.

7. 7
   noun

   The employees of a business.

   The company employed 10 new members of staff this month.

8. 8
   noun

   A pole, stick, or wand borne as an ensign of authority; a badge of office.

   a constable's staff

Etymology

From Middle English staf, from Old English stæf (“letter of the alphabet”), from Proto-West Germanic *stab, from Proto-Germanic *stabaz. Cognate with Dutch staf, German Stab, Danish stav, Swedish stav. Sense of "group of military officers that assists a commander" and similar meanings, attested from 1702, is influenced by or is even from German Stab.