Jacob's staff
Americannoun
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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 Shakespeare, William
Jacob's staff 4 ft. high and with wood shaft about 1-1/2 in.; brass head.
From Early American Scientific Instruments and Their Makers by Bedini, Silvio A.
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
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.
