staple

I. noun Etymology: Middle English stapel post, staple, from Old English stapol post; akin to Middle Dutch stapel step, heap, emporium, Old English steppan to step Date: 13th century a usually U-shaped fastener: as a. a metal loop both ends of which are driven into a surface to hold the hook, hasp, or bolt of a lock, secure a rope, or fix a wire in place b. a small wire both ends of which are driven through layers of thin and easily penetrable material (as paper) and usually clinched to hold the layers together c. a usually metal surgical fastener used to hold layers of tissue together (as in the closure of an incision) II. transitive verb (stapled; stapling) Date: 14th century to provide with or secure by staples III. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French estaple, from Middle Dutch stapel emporium Date: 15th century 1. a town used as a center for the sale or exportation of commodities in bulk 2. a place of supply ; source 3. a chief commodity or production of a place 4. a. a commodity for which the demand is constant b. something having widespread and constant use or appeal c. the sustaining or principal element ; substance 5. raw material 6. a. textile fiber (as wool and rayon) of relatively short length that when spun and twisted forms a yarn rather than a filament b. the length of a piece of such textile fiber IV. adjective Date: 1615 1. used, needed, or enjoyed constantly usually by many individuals 2. produced regularly or in large quantities <

staple crops such as wheat and rice

> 3. principal, chief