ˈchurn-staff
[f. churn n. + -staff.]
1. A staff or rod used for agitating or ‘dashing’ the cream or milk in a standing churn.
| c 1475 Pict. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 793/22 Hoc coagulatorium, a scharnstafe. 1615 Markham Eng. Housew. ii. vi. (1668) 146 The lightness of the Churm-staff. 1762 Smollett Sir L. Greaves iii (D), Employed in milking the cows, in twirling the mop or churn-staff. 1884 Chesh. Gloss., Churn-staff, the dasher of an old-fashioned ‘up and down’ churn. |
2. Local name of Sun-Spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia) and of Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris).
| 1853 N. & Q. Ser. i. VIII. 36/1 Sun Spurge..Churn Staff. 1879 Prior Plant-n. 47. 1886 Britten & Holland Plant-n., Churnstaff, (1) Euphorbia Helioscopia, (2) Linaria vulgaris. |