tipstaff

American  

[tip-staf, -stahf] / ˈtɪpˌstæf, -ˌstɑf /

noun

plural

tipstaves, tipstaffs

1. an attendant or crier in a court of law.

2. a staff tipped with metal, formerly carried as a badge of office, as by a constable.

3. any official who carried such a staff.

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tipstaff British  

/ ˈtɪpˌstɑːf /

noun

1. a court official having miscellaneous duties, mostly concerned with the maintenance of order in court

2. a metal-tipped staff formerly used as a symbol of office

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Etymology

Origin of tipstaff

1535–45; shortened form of earlier tipped staff; tip ¹, -ed ³, staff ¹

Example Sentences

Preceded by his tipstaff wearing a black frock coat and carrying a white staff topped with an elaborate gold crown, in came the judge.

From The Guardian • Mar. 19, 2017

Godefroy beat a rattling fusillade on the drum, grabbed up his bobbing tipstaff, led the way; and down we filed to the canoes.

From Heralds of Empire Being the Story of One Ramsay Stanhope, Lieutenant to Pierre Radisson in the Northern Fur Trade by Laut, Agnes C. (Agnes Christina)

He rose quickly, however, rang for the tipstaff, sent him to the commandant and to the captain of the gens-d'armes, and ordered them all to come up with arms heavily loaded.

From Black Forest Village Stories by Auerbach, Berthold

"Are you, then, a tipstaff, or a bailiff, or a turnkey?" demanded the gipsy, "that you should pursue me, as if the warrant were placed in your hands for execution!"

From The Gipsy (Vols I & II) A Tale by James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)

"I think you will be able to get anything out of him, when you get him there," said the tipstaff.

From A Jacobite Exile Being the Adventures of a Young Englishman in the Service of Charles the Twelfth of Sweden by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)