white staff
Pl. -staves.
[staff n.1 7.]
1. A white rod or wand carried as a symbol of office by certain officials, e.g. the steward of the king's household and the lord high treasurer; hence, the office held by these.
| 1581 J. Hamilton Cath. Traict. in Cath. Tract. (S.T.S.) 90 Sa thair men be certane constitute vith thair quhyt staffas as sergeantis. 1640 [see staff n.1 7]. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §101 Sir Richard Weston had been advanced to the White-staff, into the office of Lord high Treasurer of England. 1678 Jrnl. Ho. Comm. IX. 554/1 The Lords..have appointed the Lords of the White Staves to attend his Majesty. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 27 Nov. 1666, Sir Hugh Pollard, Comptroller of the Household, died at White-hall, and his Majesty conferr'd the white staffe on my brother Commissioner for sick and wounded. 1714 De Foe (title) The Secret History of the White-Staff, being An Account of Affairs under the Conduct of some late Ministers, and of what might probably have happened if Her Majesty had not Died. a 1715 Burnet Own Time ii. (1724) I. 161 He [sc. Earl of Southampton] said, he would not..see the ruin of his countrey begun, and be silent: A white staff should not bribe him. 1827 [see staff n.1 7]. |
2. An official who carries a white staff (see 1).
| 1601 in Househ. Ord. (1790) 282 These two [sc. Clerkes Comptrollers] (under the white staves) bee comptrollers of all household affaires. Ibid. 293 That so the Lord Steward, the whitestaves, and officers, might have their diettes served orderly. 1674 Essex Papers (Camden 1890) 256 The Seals being signed the white staffe is to be changed. 1675 Ibid. (1913) 25 Ye House of Lords..order their black Rod to apprehend ye Sergeant of ye House of Commons, and addresse to his Ma{supt}{supi}⊇ by word of ye white-staves that another Sergeant might be appoynted. |
3. attrib. white staff officer = 2.
| 1671 E. Chamberlayne Pres. St. Eng. i. (ed. 5) 162 The Lord Steward is a White-staff Officer; for he in the Kings Presence, carrieth a White-staff... This White-staff is taken for a Commission; at the death of the King, over the Herse made for the Kings Body, he breaketh this Staff, and thereby dischargeth all the Officers. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 17 Jan. 1687, Much discourse that all the White Staff Officers.. should be dismiss'd for adhering to their Religion. 1708 Lond. Gaz. No. 4488/2 Garter King of Arms proclaimed his Royal Highness's Stile, and the white Staff Officers broke their Staves, and threw them into the Vault. |