Staff.
1. The handle of a tool or implement. 2. A pillar or stake, for support; as the Jacob staff of a circumferenter. See b, Fig. 2710. 3. A straight-edge, for testing or truing a line or surface.4. (Milling.) The proof-staff, red-staff, tram-staff, used in testing the face of the stone, or ascertaining whether it runs exactly horizontal.
5. (Surveying.) a. A graduated stick, used in leveling. See Fig. 2913. b. A Jacob's staff. See Fig. 2710.
6. (Plastering.) A slat placed at a salient angle of an interior wall flush with the plastering on either side, to form a protection thereto. An angle-staff. 7. A round, rung, rundle, or step of a ladder. 8. One of the bars of a rundle; a certain open style of wagon-bed, made like a crate.
9. (Shipbuilding.) A measuring and spacing rule. The cutting-down staff is a rod, having marked upon it the hight of the cutting-down line above the keel at the several frames. See cutting-down line. The half-breadth staff is a rod, having marked upon it half the length of each beam in the ship. The hight-staff is a rod having marked upon it the hight above the keel of all the frames at the beamline of the ship. The room and space staff is for regulating the distances apart of the frames.
10. （Nautical.) A pole for a flag. The ensign-staff is erected over the stern; the jack-staff, over the bowsprit cap.
11. (Surgical.) A curved and grooved steel instrument introduced through the urethra into the bladder in the operation of lithotomy, and serving as a director for the gorget or knife.
12. (Music.) The five lines and four spaces on which notes of tunes are written.
