Jacob's staff

American  

noun

Jacob's staves plural

1. Astronomy. cross-staff.

2. Surveying. a pole providing a firm support for a compass or other instrument.

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Jacob's staff British  

noun

1. a medieval instrument for measuring heights and distances

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Jacob's staves
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Jacob's staff

First recorded in 1540–50

Example Sentences

PUNTARVOLO, a vain-glorious knight, over-englishing his travels, and wholly consecrated to singularity; the very Jacob's staff of compliment; a sir that hath lived to see the revolution of time in most of his apparel.

From Every Man out of His Humour by Jonson, Ben

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

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

Also, the name of the geometrical cross called Jacob's staff.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

A vainglorious knight, over-Englishing his travels, and wholly consecrated to singularity; the very Jacob's staff of compliment; a sir that hath lived to see the revolution of time in most of his apparel.

From Character Writings of the 17th Century by Various