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.
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
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.
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
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.
