9. (Surg.) The grooved director for the gorget, or knife, used in
cutting for stone in the bladder.
10. [From Staff, 3, a badge of office.] (Mil.) An establishment of
officers in various departments attached to an army, to a section of an
army, or to the commander of an army. The general's staff consists of
those officers about his person who are employed in carrying his
commands into execution. See État Major.
11. Hence: A body of assistants serving to carry into effect the plans
of a superintendant or manager; as, the staff of a newspaper.
Jacob's staff (Surv.), a single straight rod or staff, pointed and
iron-shod at the bottom, for penetrating the ground, and having a
socket joint at the top, used, instead of a tripod, for supporting a
compass. -- Staff angle (Arch.), a square rod of wood standing flush
with the wall on each of its sides, at the external angles of
plastering, to prevent their being damaged. -- The staff of life,
bread. "Bread is the staff of life." Swift. -- Staff tree (Bot.), any
plant of the genus Celastrus, mostly climbing shrubs of the northern
hemisphere. The American species (C. scandens) is commonly called
bittersweet. See 2d Bittersweet, 3 (b). -- To set, or To put, up, or
down, one's staff, to take up one's residence; to lodge. [Obs.]
Staf"fi*er (?), n. An attendant bearing a staff. [Obs.] "Staffiers on
foot." Hudibras.
Staff"ish (?), a. Stiff; harsh. [Obs.] Ascham.
Staff"man (?), n.; pl. Staffmen (&?;). A workman employed in silk
throwing.
Stag (?), n. [Icel. steggr the male of several animals; or a doubtful
AS. stagga. Cf. Steg.] 1. (Zoöl.) (a) The adult male of the red deer
(Cervus elaphus), a large European species closely related to the
American elk, or wapiti. (b) The male of certain other species of large
deer.