palstave

American

[pawl-steyv, pal-] / ˈpɔlˌsteɪv, ˈpæl- /

Also palstaff

noun

Archaeology.

a bronze celt fitted into a split wooden handle.

palstave British

/ ˈpɔːlˌsteɪv /

noun

archaeol a kind of celt, usually of bronze, made to fit into a split wooden handle rather than having a socket for the handle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of palstave

1850–55; < Danish pålstav, special use of Old Norse pālstafr javelin < Old English palster spike, taken (by folk etymology) as representing *pālstæf; see pole ¹, stave

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.

The flat axes are distinguished by the side stops and in some cases the transition from palstave to socketed axe can be seen.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 8 "Haller, Albrecht" to "Harmonium" by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023