Jacob's staff
Americannoun
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Jacob's staves
plural
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Astronomy. cross-staff.
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Surveying. a pole providing a firm support for a compass or other instrument.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of Jacob's staff
First recorded in 1540–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
By Jacob's staff, I swear I have no mind of feasting forth to-night; But I will go.
From The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
The bear again disappeared, taking the Jacob's staff, and appeared no more that night.
From Bears I Have Met—and Others by Allen Kelly
A third instrument, also to measure the height of a celestial body, was called the Jacob's staff.
From The Age of the Reformation by Preserved Smith
Jacob's staff I swear, I have no mind of feasting forth to-night: But I will go.—Go you before me, sirrah; Say, I will come.
From Shakespeare's play of the Merchant of Venice Arranged for Representation at the Princess's Theatre, with Historical and Explanatory Notes by Charles Kean, F.S.A. by Charles John Kean
It seems you would be a fine capricious, mathematically jealous coxcomb; take the height of your own horns with a Jacob's staff, afore they are up.
From The White Devil by John Webster
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
