Jacob's staff
[In sense 1, from St. James (Jacobus), whose symbols in religious art are a pilgrim's staff and a scallop shell. In the other senses the name is app. more or less fanciful.]
† 1. A pilgrim's staff. Obs.
Sometimes perhaps with a reference to Gen. xxxii. 10.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 10 Like two pilgrems from sainct Iames,..with palmers hattes on their helmettes, wyth long Iacobs staves in their handes. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. vi. 35 In his hand a Iacobs staffe, to stay His weary limbs upon. 1656 Blount Glossogr., Jacobs Staff, a Pilgrims staff, so called from those who..go on pilgrimage to the city of S{supt} Jago, or S{supt} James Compostella in Spain. |
2. a. An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the sun; a cross-staff.
b. An instrument for measuring distances and heights, consisting of a square rod about three feet in length with a cursor which slips on the staff.
c. A straight rod shod with pointed iron, and having a socket-joint at the summit for supporting a surveyor's circumferentor instead of a tripod. (In
mod. Dicts.)
| 1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 106 The Astronomers staffe, also called Iacobes staffe. 1613 M. Ridley Magn. Bodies 105 Having a Iacobs-staffe at sea and a quadrant at land take the altitude of the Sunne. 1777 Hoole Comenius' Vis. World (ed. 12) 129 A geometrician measureth the height of a tower, or the distance of places either with a quadrant or a Jacob's-staff. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Jacob's Staff, or Cross-staff, a mathematical instrument to take altitudes, consisting of a brass circle, divided into four equal parts by two lines cutting each other in the centre; at each extremity of either line is fixed a sight perpendicularly over the lines..The cross is mounted on a staff or stand for use. |
| fig. a 1613 Overbury A Wife (1638) 132 He..dares beleeve nothing above primum mobile, for 'tis out of the reach of his Jacobs staffe. a 1734 North Exam. i. ii. §16 Erecting a Jacob's Staff to take the Altitude of these wise Doings. |
† 3. A staff containing a concealed sword or dagger.
Obs.| 1596 Thomas Lat. Dict., Dolo, a great sparre or staffe with a small head of iron and a sword within it: a Iacobs staffe. 1606 Holland Sueton. xiii. 159 Found there were likewise twaine..with a staffe having a blade in it [dolone] (margin Some cal this a Iacobs-staffe) and a Hunters wood-knife waiting for him. 1656 in Blount Glossogr. |
4. A plant, the Great Mullein or Aaron's Rod.
| 1879 Britten & Holland Plant-n., Jacob's Staff, Verbascum Thapsus. |