- tipstaff
- noun (plural tipstaves) Etymology: obsolete tipstaff staff tipped with metal Date: 1535 a court officer whose duties include assisting the judge and acting as crier
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
tipstaff
Look at other dictionaries:
Tipstaff — Tip staff , n.; pl. {Tipstaff}. 1. A staff tipped with metal. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. An officer who bears a staff tipped with metal; a constable. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Tipstaff — Tip staff , n.; pl. {Tipstaff}. 1. A staff tipped with metal. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. An officer who bears a staff tipped with metal; a constable. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
tipstaff — (n.) 1540s, tipped staff (truncheon with a tip or cap of metal) carried as an emblem of office, from TIP (Cf. tip) (n.) + STAFF (Cf. staff) (n.). As the name of an official who carries one (esp. a sheriff s officer, bailiff, constable, court… … Etymology dictionary
tipstaff — [tip′staf΄] n. pl. tipstaffs or tipstaves [tip′stāvz΄] 1. a staff with a metal tip, formerly carried as an emblem by certain officials 2. an official who carried such a staff; esp., in England, a bailiff or constable … English World dictionary
Tipstaff — The Tipstaff has two different meanings, both somewhat related.TipstaffThe office of the Tipstaff is thought to be created in the 14th century. One of the earliest records of the Tipstaff was mentioned in 1570: “The Knight Marshall with all hys… … Wikipedia
tipstaff — /tip staf , stahf /, n., pl. tipstaves / stayvz /, tipstaffs. 1. an attendant or crier in a court of law. 2. a staff tipped with metal, formerly carried as a badge of office, as by a constable. 3. any official who carried such a staff. [1535 45;… … Universalium
tipstaff — noun a) A ceremonial staff, with a metal tip, carried by a constable or bailiff etc as a sign of office b) An officer, of a court etc. who carries such a staff … Wiktionary
tipstaff — n. attendant in a court of law … English contemporary dictionary
tipstaff — noun a sheriff s officer; a bailiff. Origin C16 (first denoting a metal tipped staff): contr. of tipped staff (carried by a bailiff) … English new terms dictionary
tipstaff — tip•staff [[t]ˈtɪpˌstæf, ˌstɑf[/t]] n. pl. staves [[t] ˌsteɪvz[/t]] staffs 1) an attendant or crier in a court of law 2) a staff tipped with metal, formerly carried as a badge of office, as by a constable 3) any official who carried such a staff… … From formal English to slang
