Jacob's staff
Americannoun
plural
Jacob's staves-
Astronomy. cross-staff.
-
Surveying. a pole providing a firm support for a compass or other instrument.
noun
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.
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 Kean, Charles John
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 Smith, Preserved
The bear again disappeared, taking the Jacob's staff, and appeared no more that night.
From Bears I Have Met—and Others by Kelly, Allen
The instrument is mounted on a tripod or Jacob's staff by means of a socket on the underside.
From Early American Scientific Instruments and Their Makers by Bedini, Silvio A.
His life is upright, for he is always looking upward, yet dares believe nothing above primum mobile, for 'tis out of the reach of his Jacob's staff.
From Character Writings of the 17th Century by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
