Staves
/steɪvz/noun
Plural of stave; long, slender wooden rods or bars, or the plural of staff in certain senses.
Did you know?The word sits at the crossroads of two old English forms—one for a rod or stick, and one for a musical staff—showing how a simple shape could become both tool and symbol.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*stebʰ-
“to support, prop up, or place firmly”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*stabaz
“a staff, rod, or post”
Old English
Old English
stæf
“a staff, rod, or pole; also a letter of the alphabet”
Middle English
Middle English
staf
“a staff or rod; later plural forms developed”
Modern English
English
staves
“plural form of stave or staff in some senses”