staff

staff
{{11}}staff (n.) O.E. stæf "walking stick, strong pole used for carrying, rod used as a weapon" (also, in plural, "letter, character, writing," Cf. stæfcræft "grammar"), from P.Gmc. *stabaz (Cf. O.S. staf, O.N. stafr, O.Fris. stef, M.L.G., M.Du. staf, O.H.G. stab, Ger. Stab, Goth. *stafs "element;" M.Du. stapel "pillar, foundation"), from PIE root *stebh- "post, stem, to support, place firmly on, fasten" (Cf. O.Lith. stabas "idol," Lith. stebas "staff, pillar;" O.C.S. stoboru "pillar;" Skt. stabhnati "supports;" Gk. stephein "to tie around, encircle, wreathe," staphyle "grapevine, bunch of grapes;" O.E. stapol "post, pillar").
Sense of "group of military officers that assists a commander" is attested from 1702, apparently from German, from the notion of the "baton" that is a badge of office or authority (a sense attested in English from 1530s). Meaning "group of employees (as at an office or hospital)" is first found 1837. Staff of life "bread" is from the Biblical phrase "to break the staff of bread" (Lev. xxvi:26), translating Hebrew matteh lekhem.
{{12}}staff (v.) "to provide with a staff of assistants," 1859, from STAFF (Cf. staff) (n.). Related: Staffed; staffing.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • staff — staff …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Staff — (st[.a]f), n.; pl. {Staves} (st[=a]vz or st[aum]vz; 277) or {Staffs} (st[.a]fs) in senses 1 9, {Staffs} in senses 10, 11. [AS. st[ae]f a staff; akin to LG. & D. staf, OFries. stef, G. stab, Icel. stafr, Sw. staf, Dan. stav, Goth. stabs element,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Staff — may refer to: * Staff (stick), a stick or pole to assist with walking, or sometimes used as a weapon * Staff (building material), artificial stone product used as ornament * Staff (music), a set of horizontal lines upon which notes are placed in… …   Wikipedia

  • Staff — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Alois Staff (1866–1931), böhmisch österreichischer Techniker Curt Staff (1901–1976), deutscher Jurist und Präsident des OLG Frankfurt am Main Hanne Staff (* 1972), norwegische Orientierungsläuferin Ilse… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • staff — staff1 [staf, stäf] n. pl. staffs; also, for STAFF1 senses 1 & 5, staves [ME staf < OE stæf, akin to Ger stab, < IE base * steb(h) , post, pole > STEM1, STAMP] 1. a stick, rod, or pole; specif., a) a stick used …   English World dictionary

  • staff — s. v. conducere. Trimis de siveco, 22.09.2008. Sursa: Sinonime  STAFF s.n. (Anglicism) Grup de persoane cu o anumită misiune (de conducere), sub direcţia unui şef. [pl. furi. / < engl. staff – baston, simbol al autorităţii]. Trimis de… …   Dicționar Român

  • staff — I noun adiutores, aides, assistants, associates, body of employees, cadre, clerical staff, complement, corps, council, crew, deputies, employees, faculty, force, help, legatio, management, personnel, professional force, professional staff,… …   Law dictionary

  • staff — s.m.inv. ES ingl. {{wmetafile0}} 1a. l insieme dei collaboratori più vicini a chi dirige un lavoro o coordina un attività: lo staff del primo ministro 1b. gruppo di professionisti che collaborano a un determinato lavoro: uno staff di medici… …   Dizionario italiano

  • staff — ► NOUN 1) (treated as sing. or pl. ) the employees of an organization. 2) (treated as sing. or pl. ) a group of officers assisting an officer in command of an army formation or administration headquarters. 3) a long stick used as a support or… …   English terms dictionary

  • Staff — (st[.a]f), n. [G. staffiren to fill or fit out, adorn, fr. D. stoffeeren, OF. estoffer, F. [ e]toffer, fr. OF. estoffe stuff, F. [ e]toffe. See {Stuff}, n.] (Arch.) Plaster combined with fibrous and other materials so as to be suitable for… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • staff — [n1] employees of organization agents, assistants, cadre, cast, crew, deputies, faculty, force, help, officers, operatives, organization, personnel, servants, shop, teachers, team, workers, work force; concept 325 staff [n2] stick, usually for… …   New thesaurus

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